"Beat & Release": Teenage "Bad Bunny" With Toy Rifle Appears on Istanbul Metro Train

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 31 July 2025)

                 Easter came late to Metro this year.

On 27 July, passengers on the metro train at the Hacıosman

station in Sarıyer, Istanbul, saw an individual dressed in a 

rabbit costume and carrying a rifle (!).   Cellphone pictures

were taken and posted on social media, prompting police to

track down the "bad bunny".

He was identifed as A.Y. (15), traveling from the Hacıosman

station toward the Cumhuriyet Mahallesi station.  A.Y. was

captured at the metro station at Araba Yolu Caddesi.  The 

rifle he was carrying turned out to be a rather genuine-looking

wooden toy (!). 

Where these kids get their nspiration...

"Hmmm & Release": Mysterious Dead Body & Strange Note - Murder or Suicide?, in Sarıyer, Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 30 July 2025)

             An incident inspired by Agatha Christie.

In Istanbul's Sarıyer district the morning before last at about

0930, a passer-by strolling in a wooded area noticed the lifeless

body of a man and called the police.   There was a black plastic

bag covering the head and it was bound with tape.  Alongside the 

body, police found a note written in Russian and a bag with a 

cellphone, Istanbul transit card, money and various other items 

inside it. 

The victim's hotel room card enabled police to identify him:

Russian citizen Usman Amriev (20).  The note found in 

Amriev's hand had been written on a computer.  

(herewith the Turkish-to-English translation):

"My beloved, I hope these words never reach your hands. For 

I will be slandered; do not believe them. If this letter has come 

to you, it means I have died. I swear that I only sought the truth, 

but it was all in vain. I will not go down in history as one of the 

scholars. They will not write about me in books, but everyone 

will suffer their own punishment. I beg you, do not let them 

bury me as a traitor."

The note continued with the 153rd "ayet" (verse of the Koran)

from the "Bakara Suresi" (chapter of the Koran), written in 

Arabic script.  Police are endeavoring to get to the bottom of

the case, based on the clues available, and determine whether 

it was a murder or a suicide. 

"Invade & Release": Customs Police Thwart "Labubu" and "Dumb Phone" Invasions into Turkey

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 28 July 2025)

 The diabolical plan was for them to use the dumb phones.

In two anti-smuggling operations, customs police seized 132

"Labubu" dolls worth 659,000 TL (about $16,200) at Sabiha

Gökçen Airport, and  19,919 "dumb" telephones worth 122.2 

million TL (about $  3 million) at the Habur Border Gate on the 

border with Iraq.

Two arriving passengers went through the "nothing to declare"

gate at Sabiha Gökçen but customs officials decided to search 

their suitcases and the "Labubu" dolls appeared (!). 

At Habur, a TIR (commercial truck)'s declaration showed 

20,000 "smart" phones, but a search of the truck revealed

19,919 "dumb" (key press) phones instead. 

"Rolex & Release": Another Ruling Party Member Flashes Her Rolex, With Predictable Critical Results

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 27 July 2025)

             Time on her hands until 1 October.

As the Turkish Parliament completed this session's work on

21 July and headed off to summer vacation (returning 

1 October (!)), parliamentarian Nilhan Ayan of the ruling

AKP party sat for a memento photo with her colleagues.

                                  Back to the future.

However (!),  Nilhan hanım's Rolex watch, seen on her

wrist in the photo, and valued at more than $30,000, brought

back memories of AKP's Bahadır Yenişehirlioğlu flashing 

his own Rolex last year and AKP member Şebnem Bursalı 

boasting of her Monaco vacation and the delicious lobster 

she ate there. 

Predictably, critical comments rained down on Nilhan hanım

on social media.  Her father is Selahattin Ayan, the owner of 

the famous bakery chain Pelit. 

                                        Afiyet olsun!

"Fleece & Release": Grocer Hoodwinks 30-year Customers and Disappears, in Adana

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 26 July 2025)

                     Victims of a gross grocery scam. 

In Adana's Seyhan district, grocer S.E. operated his shop for 30

years in the same neighborhood.  He proposed to his loyal 

customers that they join him in trading affairs so they gave S.E. 

their bank cards, jewelry and cash to be a part of his scheme, 

getting nice regular returns on their investments. 

However (!),  at the beginning of July S.E. disappeared. Many

of  his victims gathered in front of his shop to protest, demanding

that police catch the rascal. 

"Beat & Release": 41 Years Later, Turk's Scar Identifies Him as German Girl's 1984 Murderer

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 25 July 2025) 

                Nazmi bey a bit worse for wear at 66.

On 30 July 1984, nursing student Maria Köhler was found dead

in her hospital dorm room in Aschaffenburg, Germany.  It was

determined that she had been strangled, most probably by her

boyfriend at the time Nazmi Gezginci, who fled the country the

day after the murder and went to Turkey. 

41 years later, this cold case was re-examined and cooperation

between the German police, Interpol and the Hatay provincial

security force began, focusing physical and technical pursuit

on Gezginci's relatives in Hatay.  

Ultimately, a 1.5-centimeter scar under the right eye of Gezginci,

who was using someone else's ID card, identified him and he was

taken into custody in Serinyol village in Antakya district. 

"Beat & Release": Brutish Noisy Neighbors Attack Wheelchair-bound Woman Who Complained, in Erzurum

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 24 July 2025)

5 bat-wielding men vs. woman in wheelchair - fair fight?

In Erzurum's Palandöken district on the night of 14 July, Esin 

Sarıaslan (48), who is wheelchair-bound and works at a local 

hospital, was attacked by her neighbors because Esin hanım had

complained to police about the neighbors' excessive noise. 

Esin hanım was kicked and beaten with bats by five men.  She

obtained a hospital report to document her injuries and filed a

complaint with the police. Yet the assailants were all released from

custody after giving statements (!). 

On 13 July, Esin hanım had called the police about her noisy 

neighbors and they quieted down. However (!), the next night

after relaxing in a park across the street from her home, she and

her mother were attacked by the five men as they approached

their home.  The police arrived but the attack continued, with 

about 100,000 TL-worth of damage (about $2,500) inflicted on 

Esin hanım's wheelchair. 

Since the attackers remain free, Esin hanım is afraid to leave

her home.  As she awaits the consequences of the justice system's

handling of the case, she has filed complaints with the Erzurum

governor's office and CIMER, the presidential call center. 

"Beat & Release": Deckhand Killed by Swedish Women's Thugish Turkish Boyfriends, in Marmaris

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(ahaber.com website, 22 July 2025)

instagram video of  the ongoing assault.

                           Definitely not the Love Boat.

The dreadful incident occurred in Kocabahçe Bey in the 

Bozburun section of Marmaris on the boat named "E. Arda 

Deniz".  Three Swedish women who rented the boat, invited

three Turkish men to join them.  The men had come from 

Antalya and wanted to stay on the two-room boat. 

However (!),  deckhand Arda Deniz Onat (24) and the boat's

captain, his father Kenan Onat, told the men that the boat

could not accommodate six people.  An argument ensued,

with the three men from Antalya cursing Arda and his father,

and then hitting Arda in the head with an iron bar (!), causing

him to fall into the water. 

 

Captain Kenan Onat, pulled his unconscious son from the 

water and brought him to Germe port for medical treatment,

but in vain as Arda succumbed to his injury and died.

The three men from Antalya, Sinan Yetkin, Selim Yetkin and

Çoşkun Volkan Canfedai, were arrested by Coast Guard

personnel after being treated for injuries at Marmaris State 

Hospital.  Local citizens attacked the three as they were

being brought to the courthouse., owing to Arda's popularity

in Bozburun

"Crush & Decease": Bulldozer Flattens Sunbather on Black Sea Beach

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 20 July 2025)

                       no comment other than :(

The horrific accident occurred on the shore in Abana district

of Kastamonu province.  After her husband's death, Nergiz

Acar (65) lived in a number of places before returning to 

Abana.  The elderly woman suffered from bone aches and

the day before yesterday she wanted to lie in the sun at the 

Abana beach. 

Stretched out on the sand, Nergiz hanım became the victim

of a bizarre accident - a bulldozer operated by the state water

works authority came to clean the beach and flattened her.  

The driver of the 15-ton bulldozer didn't notice Nergiz hanım 

and plowed right over her.  Her screams were heard but the 

deed was done.  The driver has been taken into custody.

"Beat & Release": Fake Police Enter Home, Steel Safe, Get Caught, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 20 July 2025)

Sometimes, "police" don't even have a pulse. So beware!

In Istanbul's Bahçelievler district on the morning of 9 July, a

robbery like one you'd see in the movies occurred.  Two

individuals came to a house in the Zafer neighborhood

dressed as policemen and entered. Once inside, they grabbed a 

steel safe and fled. 

(Real) police checked security camera footage and 

identified the suspects and the car they used, tracking them

to an address in Güngören district.  The suspects changed

cars in Güngören - the first one was found burned out nearby.

Nevertheless, police kept track of the suspects and in

simultaneous raids in Esenyurt, Esenler and Güngören, 

"policemen" R.B. and A.B. were taken into custody and a long-

barreled gun and an unlicensed revolver were seized.

The two suspects were arraigned and jailed on 18 July. 

"Slice & Release": Patient Dies After Remote Internet Nose Job Operation at Same Hospital Where Brazlian Influencer Died, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 19 July 2025)

    

                      The nose didn't know this time.

CNC (computer numerical controlled) operator Ramazan Ak 

(45), the father of three children, made an appointment to have

a nose operation at Tusa Hospital in Tuzla, Istanbul.  The 

operation was directed remotely via the internet (!) by surgeon

Dr. M.B., beginning at noon the day before yesterday and

ending 5 hours later.

However (!), after the operation, Ak was rushed to intensive

care and he died two hours later.  His accompanying family 

members were shocked by the news from hospital personnel

that Ak had suffered a heart attack.  They claimed that there

was no cardiologist at the hospital during the operation and 

they then filed a criminal complaint against Dr. M.B. 

Ak's older brother Ekrem Ak asserted that there had been 

negligence during the operation.  He stated that: "There was

a lack of equipment, cleaning personnel were running hither

and yon, there was no specialist doctor present, the operation

was supported from afar via the internet and no one intervened.

The hospital personnel were indifferent and laughing.  I filed

the criminal complaint so no one else has to go through such a

travail. The hospital took my brother from me."

                   Died under the influence of fame.

At the same hospital on 16 June, Brazilian social media

influencer Ana Barbara Buhr Buldrini died after a "fat-

removal" operation.  

"Beat & Release": 20 Years Later, "Captivating" Woman's Suicide Ruled Murder and 7 Suspects Captured, in Pendik

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 18 July 2025)

            The captivating one and the captured ones.

In Pendik, Istanbul, 20 years ago the mangled body of Gönül 

Çelen (26, whose name means "captivating" !) was found on 

the tracks at the Tersane train station after she had been hit by

 a train. Suicide was the determination then.

However (!), based on a tip, this cold case was re-investigated

and 7 people, 4 of them women, have been taken into custody.

The incident occurred in Pendik's Kaynarca neighborhood on

25 April 2005, and the woman's body found on the tracks was

identified as that of Gönül hanım, the mother of two children.

A tipster, though, prompted a re-investigation that has resulted

ln N.K. (60), H.Ç. (60), A.T. (66), İ.G. (55), R.U. (40), M.A.K.

(39) and Ö.K. (34) being taken into custody in Muğla, Edirne,

Sakarya, Trabzon and Istanbul. 

Gönül hanım  had an alcohol level of 304 promil at the time of

her death, meaning that she would have been too drunk to walk

to the train station on her own.  In addition, a few minutes after

her death a new phone number was inserted into her telephone 

and a call made.

Two of those taken into custody were the last individuals to

talk to Gönül hanım - her former boss, the owner of the phone

that used her old line, and the person the boss called.  At one

of the homes raided two unlicensed revolvers and a large 

number of bullets were found. 

"Beat & Release": Laser Tracks Reverse Angle to Air Rifle Shot That Killed Walker, in Ümraniye

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 17 July 2025)

Angel of Death's air rifle shot back-tracked by laser shot.

On Thursday 10 July, at precisely 1408 hours, while walking 

with a friend, furniture salesman Rıfat Üretir (56) suddenly fell

to the ground in the Aşağı Dudullu neighborhood of Ümraniye, 

Istanbul.  According to the statement of his friend M.Y., there

was bleeding on Üretir's back but no gunghot had been heard - 

only a whizzing sound.  

Police arrived at the scene and determined that Üretir had been

killed by a bullet from an air rifle.  They used a laser technique

to track the firing point to two possible addresses, one of which

was a workshop on Hacı Hasan Efendi Boulevard where air

guns and other equipment for the police, films and TV shows

are made.

Workshop owner Numan O.Ö. (33) told police that the 

workshop's security camera was not working (!), but a repair

shop contradicted this.  Consequently, Numan bey confessed

that he had been "test-firing" an air rifle and the bullet hit

Üretir by mistake.  In a panic, he then destroyed the rifle and

the security camera gear.  

A search of the workshop turned up two other air rifles and

bullets like the one that killed Üretir.  Numan bey was jailed.

"Geese & Release": Some Complaints Keep Geese Cooped Up, With Deadly Results, in Erdek

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 16 July 2025)

                                     In happier days...

In Erdek district of Balıkesir province, Mehmet Keşniş (65) 

bought a pair of geese to eat the weeds in his cafe's garden.

Over the years, the offspring grew to 30 and each morning

the entire flock of geese would leave the garden to take a dip 

in the Sea of Marmara. 

However (!),  some complaints about the geese have led

to the District Agriculture Directorate's order that Keşniş

keep the geese in the garden and away from the water.  In the

month since the order was issued eight geese have died

from the heat and stress (!). 

Keşniş's daughter Başak (36) lamented that "There are

some people with bad intentions. The geese are less 

harmful to the sea than people, who are much more 

destructive and leave litter behind them wherever they

go."

Local resident Nilüfer Duruoğlu (53)  opined that "No

creature's rights should be violated. This is our duty!"

 

"Dig & Release": Farmer Planting Saplings Found Ancient Roman Mosaic, in Elazığ

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 15 July 2025)

            From little saplings do mighty mosaics grow.

A farmer in Salkaya village of Elazığ province was planting 

saplings in 2023, when he accidentally came upon an ancient

mosaic, prompting investigations with underground radar

equipment that also exposed a 1,700-year-old Roman bath

that had its own heating system. 

Late Roman Empire in Anatolia

Elazığ province

"Beat & Release": Boy Plays Dead, Summons Help After Attack on Family's Container Home, in Konya

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 14 July 2025)

Farmer's son-in-law's brother, lower left, among attackers.

In Konya's Ilgın district, farmer Saim Demirci (44) planted corn

and wheat in a field he rented in Bala 9 months ago.  Demirci 

lived at the field in a container with his wife Kezban (42), and

their two children.  On 9 July, Demirci and his daughter Gönül

(18) went to water the field, leaving Kesban hanım and son 

Nazif (12) at the container.

Soon after, three men wearing ski masks entered the container

and shot Kezban hanım and Nazif with a pump-action rifle. 

Kezban hanım died and Nazif was seriously wounded in his

leg and groin.  Nazif pretended to be dead as the attackers 

searched the container for gold.  When they left, Nazif used his

mother's phone to call his father, telling him what had happened

and to "come quickly!"

Demirci rushed to the container and informed the Gendarmerie

and medics about the incident.  Nazif was taken to a hospital 

for treatment.  

A shepherd who witnessed the incident told the Gendarmerie

team that the attackers had come in a black car.  Later in the day

the Gendarmerie captured the 3 suspects, one of whom is 

İsmail Özdil, the brother of Demirci's son-in-law Hamza

Özdil (!).  

İsmail Özdil had visited the family recently and learned they had

some gold.  So he and two friends waited in ambush for 3 days

until Demirci left the container to conduct the attack.  They did

not find the gold.

"Propose & Release": Bloody Attack Staged for Successful "Adrenaline Rush" Marriage Proposal, in Adana

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 13 July 2025)

  "Oscar"-caliber performance led to Nazlı hanım's "YES!"

In Adana, Şakir Karakaya (29), who works at a driver-training

company along with his childhood sweetheart Nazlı Gümüş,

arranged with his friends to propose to Nazlı hanım amid a 

purported bloody armed attack (!).  

Karakaya came to Çukurova district to meet with Nazlı hanım 

and her friends.  In accordance with this (bizarre!) plan, 

as Karakaya got out of his car, a friend drove up on a motorcycle

and "shot" Karakaya, who fell to the ground with "blood" all

over him.  

Nazlı hanım, in shock and despair, ran to Karakaya's side, at

which point Karakaya proposed marriage to her (!).  Of course,

the bewildered Nazlı hanım said "YES!".  

However (!), passers-by thinking that Karakaya had been shot

for real, called the police, who arrived to take Karakaya, Nazlı

hanım and the "actors" to the Yüzüncüyıl police station for an

explanation.

Karakaya subsequently told reporters that he and Nazlı hanım 

have been together for 14 years.  He said that Nazlı hanım did

not want a run-of-the-mill marriage proposal but, rather, one to

create an adrenaline rush and fright.  In response, Karakaya 

came up with this "attack" plan but "we acted it out so well

people thought it was for real."

As for Nazlı hanım, she related that "It was a bad scene but one

that I'd dreamed about.  I'm very happy." (!). 

"Beat & Release": Tesla Explodes in a Ball of Fire, Killing Two, in Malatya

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 12 July 2025)

                                 Elon sends his regrets.

In Malatya, the day before yesterday, at about 4 o'clock in the

morning, a Tesla vehicle crashed into a light pole and exploded

in a ball of fire (!) on the Malatya-Elazığ highway near the 

Turgut Özal Medical Center (TÖTM). 

After a prolonged effort, the Tesla fire was extinguished but

the badly burned bodies of male nurses Ozan Uçar (33) and

Uğur Oğraş (31), who worked at TÖTM,  were found in the 

wreckage.  The Tesla's AI locked the doors upon impact so 

the two victims could not get out of the vehicle.   Oğraş had

just recently purchased the Tesla. 

"Beat & Release": Traveler's "Bathroom Break" Proves Fatal en Route from Germany to Ankara

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 11 July 2025)

A Gendarmerie team patrolling the TEM highway the night 

before last at about 2200 hours, noticed a car with German

plates - BB SE 889 - parked in the far left lane, which had

been closed to traffic for road repairs.  Inside the car by 

herself was E.G. (65).  

She told the Gendarmes that she and her husband Selim Güzel 

(70) were en route to Ankara from Germany and that her husband, 

needing a "bathroom break" had pulled the car over and walked 

toward a nearby rest stop/restaurant on the side of the highway

headed towards Ankara.  

However (!), more than an hour had passed and Selim bey had

not returned.  Additional Gendarmerie units were called to the

scene and a search began, augmented by AFAD (search &

rescue) and Gendarmerie commandos.  Night-vision equipped

drones and sniffer dogs joined the search, too.

Thinking that perhaps Selim bey had walked toward a rest stop

on the side of the highway headed to Istanbul, the searchers 

entered a wooded area on that side.  

The search for Selim bey lasted all night and at 0530 hours

yesterday morning he was found exhausted in the woods in 

back of the rest stop - he had climed over a barb wire fence to 

get into the woods.  Selim bey was taken to Hendek State

Hospital but he could not be saved.  

Initial evaluations indicate that there was no foul play involved

in Selim bey's demise, but an autopsy will be performed to 

pinpoint the exact cause of death

"Wed & Release": Moroccan Women With Expired Visas Paid to Marry Turks, in Ankara

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 10 July 2025)

                Honeymoon was to be in Casablanca.

Moroccan women in Turkey with expired visas married  

Turkish men to remain in the country - the marriages were

arranged for money by go-betweens working with municipal

marriage officials in 9 districts of Ankara. (!) 

It has been determined that the documents required from 

the Moroccan government for the marriages were fake.  In

all, 30 people were taken into custody in connection with 

the scam, 10 of them municipal marriage officials.  The

marriages have been voided and the women expelled from

Turkey. 

"We'll always have...uh...Ankara"