"Beat & Release": Three Tales of Football and Hubris in Turkey

Btürkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 31 August 2025)

  

       From Kansas City Chiefs to Trabzon City Chiefs.

Jeremiah Beltran, a businessman from Kansas Cıty USA, who is

of Native American descent, came to the Black Sea coast with

his family six years ago on vacation and was so taken with the

green valleys and wonderful natural features around Trabzon

that he was reluctant to leave, deciding to remain permanently.

Both Beltran and his family have become fanatic fans of 

Trabzonspor and wear Native American headdresses along with 

Trabzonspor garb to root the team on at the stadium.  Their

home, too, is adorned with Trabzonspor paraphernalia. 

The Beltrans' four children are continuing their USA education

online and two of them play on amateur "futbol" teams in

Trabzon city. 

                 Big Chief Jerehmiah and squaw.

**************************************************

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 31 August 2025)

                                           Arrival...

Jose Mourinho came to Istanbul amid a royal welcome 15

months ago to coach Fenerbahçe, arriving on a private plane

from London, met by thousands of FB fans at Sabiha Gökçen

Airport  and then whisked to his hotel in a helicopter. (!)

However (!),  during his coaching tenure FB's performance 

has not improved and he was recently fired as coach, departing

ignominiously on a scheduled flight like an ordinary person.

                                          ...departure.

*****************************************************

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 31 August 2025)

"Don't You Know Who I Am?!" - Gendarmerie soldier clearly 

dazzled by his chance encounter with this VIP. 

Hasan Özılgın, the chief of the ruling party AKP's  organization

in Eskişehir's Beylikova district, took umbrage at Gendarmerie

troops who stopped him for a traffic check, raining down ugly 

insults on them and topping it all off with the classic "Don't you 

know who I am?!" that insecure "VIPs" are famous for. 

Both Özılgin and the Gendarmerie troops promised to file 

complaints about each other.

"Beat & Release": Police Rescue Woman From Abusive Husband, But Then Sexually Harass Her, in Izmir

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Milliyet Newspaper, 28 August 2025)

              The "rescue" was worse than the attack!

In Izmir's Karabağlar district, after Büşra K. (32) had given her

statement regarding her husband's attack on her, the policeman

who escorted her to her home, Süleyman Ay (50) tried to sexually

harass Büşra hanım, but she grabbed his gun and shot him in the

stomach. Ay has been sentenced to 10 years, 6 months in jail (!).

The incident occurred on the night of 31 January 2024 at the

TOKI Apartments on 6002 Street in the Uzundere neighborhood.

Büşra hanım, who has four children from her first marriage, was

then in the process of divorcing her abusive second husband 

Cenk K.  When Cenk bey attacked Büşra hanım she pressed the 

"KADES" button on her phone to summon help from the police. 

Sometimes the cure is worse than the ailment.

Büşra hanım was then rescued from Cenk bey's clutches by the

police and brought to the police station to give a statement. 

According to her, at the police station Ay said to Büsra hanım

"Beautiful women like you rarely come to the police station."

He then gave her candy and touched her cheek. Ay next escorted

Büşra hanım to her home, along with policeman Ş.M., in a police

car.

However (!), upon entering the house, Ay took off his jacket and

placed his gun on a table.  He began to sexually harass Büşra

hanım,  by squeezing her into a corner.  In her effort to defend

herself, Büşra hanım grabbed Ay's gun and shot him in the 

stomach.  She then rushed to the balcony and screamed for help.

Ay was taken to a hospital for treatment, and Büşra hanım was 

arrested but later released to await trial. 

Subsequently, Ay was convicted on various charges of sexual

harassment against Büşra hanım and sentenced to 10 years,

six months in jail.  Büşra hanım was acquitted. 

"Beat & Release": Stabbed by Wife, Instead of a Hospital He Went to Brother's Boarding House, in Antalya

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 27 August 2025)

   In happier days...when his bride was fresh as a daisy.

In Antalya, at about 11 o'clock on the night of 20 August, 

Osman Karayel (51) argued with his Russian wife Aısylu

Akhmetshina (57) and then went to stay at the boarding

house in the Muratpaşa neighborhood where his brother

Ali Karayel lives.  

However (!), when Ali bey returned to the boarding house

from market shopping at 10 o'clock on the night of 23

August he found his brother's lifeless body in the corridor

toilet.  

It turned out that Osman bey's wife had stabbed him a

number of times in the stomach during their argument,

but instead of going to a hospital Osman bey went to

his brother's boarding house, where he succumbed to

his wounds 3 days later. 

Aısylu hanım was arrested but claimed she was defending

herself when she stabbed her husband. 

"Eat & Release": Two Dutch Boys Succumb to Food Poisoning, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 26 August 2025)

                          No "Dutch Treat" this time. 

Dutch citizen Rashid Mohammed (57) came to tour Istanbul

with his two sons Jamil Yusuf (17) and Yazdani (15).  On 22

August, the three of them left their hotel in Fatih and went to

walk along the famous Istiklal Boulevard in the Beyoğlu 

section of the city.  After having an evening meal there, the

three returned to their hotel.

However (!), the next morning, the father found his two sons

motionless, called for help, and was heartbroken to learn that

they had both died during the night.  The devastated Rashid 

was brought to a hospital for treatment.

Police officials went to the restaurant where the three had

dined and took B.K., E.K. and A.K. into custody, along with

T.M..Ç., who had served them ayran (a cool drink made of 

yogurt and water).  E.K. was put under house arrest, while

the others were released on judicial supervision.  

The boys' cause of death will be determined by the police

forensic lab. 

"Beat & Release": Mom Attacked Daughter With a Knife Because of Ex-Boyfriend's Photo on the Young Girl's Tablet, in Adana

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 25 August 2025)

 Ayşegül hanım is a firm believer in "tough love", with a

  sharp edge.

In Yüreğir district of Adana the day before yesterday at around

noon, Ayşegül Y. (35) became enraged when she noticed  a 

picture of her boyfriend of nine years ago, Sabri B., on the 

tablet of her daughter E.H.Y. (10) - Sabri bey is the young

girl's father (!). 

It turned out that Sabri B. had abandoned Ayşegül hanım

and her daughter, sparking Ayşegül hanım's outrage upon

seeing his photo on their daughter's tablet and prompting 

her to grab a knife to attack her daughter with (!). 

A citizen tried to save the young girl by putting her on his

motorcyle.  However (!), Ayşegül hanım pulled E.H.Y.'s hair

in an effort to drag her off the motorcycle. Ultimately, the

young girl was distanced from her crazed mother on the same

motorcycle, thanks to the intervention of passers-by. 

Ayşegül hanım was taken into custody by police and 

"explained" in her statement that "My daughter was playing

on the street, but when I saw some strangers near her I came

out of the house.  I thought that my ex-boyfriend's relatives

were trying to kidnap her.  I wasn't attacking my daughter, I

was attacking them!"

Later, she told reporters: "What mother would cause harm to

her child?!"  Ayşegül hanım was processed, given a health

exam and jailed. 

"Beat & Release": He Plays a Bad Guy on TV - and in Real Life, Too, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 22 August 2025)

                      Straight out of central casting.

Ufuk Bayraktar (43), who plays the role of the young roughneck

Ramiz Dayı (Uncle Ramiz) in the "Ezel" TV show, tried to extort

protection  money from a restaurant in the Firüzağa neighborhood

of  Beyoğlu, Istanbul, last week.  When Bayraktar returned to the

restaurant the day before yesterday, his actions were secretly

recorded along with these words: "Our neighborhood youths

should get 10,000 TL per week.  That's nothing, table-wiping

money."

Upon the restaurant owner's police complaint, Bayraktar and 

Volkan Akbaş were taken into custody.  The two were processed

at the Istanbul courthouse in Çağlayan, charged with extortion

but freed on judicial supervision. 

Subsequently, Bayraktar posted this on his social media account:

"My dispute with the business next to mine ended up at the 

police station.  He accused me of wanting protection money.

His place is about 30 meters from the tea garden I own, and we've

been neighbors for 7-8 years.  Our elders are friends, too.  Over

the past few months, my relationship with my neighbor has been

distorted in the media.  Up to now, I have never tried to get the

slightest thing from anyone that didn't belong to me."

However (!), in 2007 Bayraktar was sentenced for using an

unlicensed gun that belonged to his father in an altercation. He

finally went to prison in August 2018 and was released in March

2019. 

Takes his work home from the TV film set.

"Butt & Release": Drone Spots Youth Flicking Cigarette Butt and Delivers Summons to Him, in Osmaniye

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 21 August 2025)

                           Look up before you flick.

In Osmaniye, there was a humorous incident in connection with

the municipality's cleanliness campaign.  One of a number of 

young people celebrating a birthday in the "Millet Bahçesi"

(National Garden park) flicked a cigarette butt onto the ground.

However (!), the butt flick was spotted by a police drone and

the flicker was fined 2,954 TL (about $70).  Non-drone police

approached the flicker and told him "your present will be here

in just a bit."

Shortly afterwards, a drone delivered the violation notice to

the butt flicker and recorded his startled expression.  The

municipality is now using the drone video as part of its "keep

the city clean" campaign.

"Beat & Release": His "Mad Max" Creation Snagged by Traffic Police, in Aksaray

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 21 August 2025)

         The automotive Picasso and his masterpiece.

In Aksaray, automobile fanatic Fatih Mutlu expanded the motor

and chassis of his 1991-model car over the course of 6 months

and produced something that belongs in a science fiction movie.

Mutlu's creation attracted lots of attention on social media.

Fits right in.

However (!), his vehicle has been banned from the roads by the

Aksaray traffic police, who fined Mutlu 8,306 TL (about $200)

and suspended his license for two months.  In addition, since 

Mutlu's penalty points have reached the 100 level, the decision 

was made to subject him to "psychotechnical evaluations" (!). 

Inaugural road trip on hold...

"Beat & Release": She Killed Hubby and Left His Body in a Bathtub for Nine Months, in Kırıkkale

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 20 August 2025)

One hopes Fatma hanım found herself another bathtub

during those nine long months.

The horrific incident occurred in 2007 in Kırıkkale.  Fatma 

Sunger (51) argued with her husband Özgur Sunger and shot

him dead.  Fatma hanım then put Özgür Bey's body, wrapped

in nylon, in the bathtub for 9 months (!). 

When the matter came to light, Fatma hanım was jailed but

later transferred to a minimum security prison in Denizli,

from where she recently escaped.  But police caught her when 

she showed them someone else's ID, and she was returned to

jail. 

"Keep the Beat & Release": Musical Descent on Cable Line Marks University Farewell, in Bursa

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 18 August 2025)

 Appropriately, he played and sung "Stairway to Heaven".

Besim Bora Baş (26), having completed his university education

in Bursa's İznik district, made a dramatic exit from his flat by 

means of a cable that conveyed his oversize furniture to a truck 

waiting below on the street.  Baş then lowered himself on the cable 

while playing the guitar and singing a song (!). 

Baş, who has an interest in mountain-climbing, finished Uludağ

University in Bursa's İznik district and made ready to return to 

his hometown Karaman in Konya province.  To lower his furniture 

from his 3rd floor flat that wouldn't fit through the front door Baş 

hooked up a cable from his balcony to the street for the transport.

He explained that "I have an interest in mountain-climbing and

learned about cable transport techniques.  I even have an

international certificate.  So when the beds couldn't be taken out

through the door, I set up the cable system to lower them to the

truck below.  Ultimately, I donned my full-body harness and 

went down the same way, playing music like I've done on my

balcony."

İznik is the ancient Nicea

"Beat & Release": Wife Confessed on TV to Poisoning Her Husband for Lover's Sake, in Osmaniye

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 16 August 2025)

              They can't resist dishing the dirt on TV.

The extramarital murder occurred on 22 March 2024 in 

Osmaniye.  Mehmet Yörük died after spending 20 days

in a hospital. Afterwards, his wife Sebile Yörük (49)'s

lover Mustafa Samagan went on a TV show and 

revealed his affair with Sebile hanım, who tearfully 

confessed that she had poisoned Mehmet bey (!).

A "feth-i kabir" (removing a body from a grave) was

conducted and an autopsy showed hydrogen sulphide in

Mehmet bey's system.  

           She did it for Brad Pitt...uh...Mustafa bey.

In any case, after spending 10 months in jail, both Sebile

hanım and Mustafa bey were released on judicial 

supervision.  However (!), a court ordered another trial

and Sebile hanım was tracked down in  a street-to-street 

search in Adana's Seyhan district.  

"Marvel & Release": Spiderman Hitchhikes to Diyarbakır, Adjacent to Batman (!), to Cheer Up Kids

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 15 August 2025)

                           Let's see Batman top this!

Ayaz Salih Koç (26) helped children in the wake of the 

6 February 2023 earthquake in Kahramanmaraş and then set

out from his hometown of Izmir to tour Turkey as Spiderman

by hitchhiking (!). He has arrived in Diyarbakır - the 67th stop 

on his tour (!) and entertained children in a pool in Anzele Park 

in Diyarbakır's Sur district. 

Koç explained that "I've been touring Turkey by hitchhiking.  

I've enjoyed wonderful hospitality in  Diyarbakır.  If I get support 

from businessmen and do-gooders, I'll go to many more villages, 

schools, and hospitals to bring good Spiderman cheer to kids."

Marvel-ous geography.

"Beat & Release": Some Smart and Fancy Police Work Nabs Kidnappers, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 14 August 2025)

            Ultimately, police kidnapped the kidnappers.

On 7 August, someone from Cyprus called the emergency 

police number 112 (like 911) in Istanbul, saying that her

spouse may have been kidnapped.  Police went into action,

calling the phone number of Türkmenistan citizen A.S. (35), 

the missing person in question, who works in the tourism

sector.  

The person who answered the phone claimed to be A.S.,

adding that all was well.  Unconvinced, police told the

individual to engage in a video call and to send them his

location coordinates.  When the individual declined to do

either, the police investigated further and found that the

kidnappers were using their captive's phone to call his 

friends and extort money. 

So the police contacted an extortion target and told him

to play along with the kidnappers, such that he would bring

them money.  As a result, one of the kidnappers was nabbed

in Bahçelievler and another in Şirinevler.  They gave police

the information needed for a raid to free the hostage, who

was being held in a house in Bahçelievler.

After being rescued, A.S. said that "We had worked together.

As we were dining, they kidnapped me and threatened to 

kill me.  Each day, they beat me and had me ask my friends

for money."  

As for the kidnappers, they claimed that A.S. owed them

$16.000, so they resorted to this method to get their money

from him.  Suspects J.J. (30), A.B. (22), A.O. (19) and M.A.

(32) were jailed. 

"Beat & Release": Teenage Gangsters Use Cigarette-on-Tongue Torture in Extortion Attempt, in Sultanbeyli

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 13 August 2025)

                             What? No ashtray around?

In Istanbul's Sultanbeyli district, a gang of 18-year-olds got

themselves into trouble by posting a vicious video on social

media.  Emirhan B.,  Hamza Eren K., Taha Yasin E., Yusuf M.,

Muhammet Muaz B. and Miraç Taha B. targeted two 

individuals because of a supposed 50,000 TL (about $1,200) 

debt.

On 30 July, the gang threatened the two with guns in the

Hasanpaşa neighborhood, stole their motorcycle and burned

one's tongue with a cigarette (!).  All the while, the gang was

recording the incident on their cellphones and then posted the

video on social media. 

Police in Sultanbeyli identified the perpetrators and nabbed

them all in raids on the morning of 31 July.  They are all now

in Maltepe Prison. 

"Cousins & Release": Son of Turk Who Went to the USA 66 Years Ago, Gets Warm Welcome, in Yozgat

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 12 August 2025)

       A bewildered Brent and family with dad's sister. 

In something of a Hollywood movie scenario, the star of this 

story is Melih Esen Arslaner, who was born in Yozgat's Fakıbeyli 

village, one of 9 siblings.  Melih Esen was eager to learn and 

went to the Kayseri Pazarören Village Institute, finishing with 

honors. 

Next, he  graduated from Gazi University in Ankara as an 

English teacher and wanted to work at Middle East Technical 

University (METU), also in Ankara.  However, in the political 

climate of those days he was blocked from working at METU. 

Melih Esen protested, but in vain.  So instead, he went to the 

USA on a Fullbright scholarship 66 years ago and was never 

heard from again -  until (!) the matter of a plot of land passed 

down to Melih Esen from his father and its relation to the 

proposed Yozgat Airport came up.  

                Red-shirted Ömer bey made it all happen.

Melih Esen's relative Ömer Yurdagül in Yozgat managed to 

get in touch with the sons of long-lost Melih Esen, who died in

the USA in 2020,  through social media.  Ömer bey invited the

sons, Brent and Kent, to Turkey and Brent came with his wife

and family for a 10-day visit, starting with a tour of touristic

and historical sites in Istanbul, and then to Anıt Kabir, Atatürk's

grave in Ankara. 

Next, Brent and his family went to his father's hometown 

Fakıbeyli village in Yozgat, where they met their father's 3

sisters and their children.  After that, they went to Izmir to visit

some more relatives. 

"Beat the System & Release": Two Kilograms of Potatoes Get You a "Diploma", in Istanbul

 türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Facebook, 10 August 2025)

Dean presiding over the graduation ceremony.

Lately, a "fake diploma" scandal has been rocking Turkey, but

a couple of fruit and vegetable sellers in Istanbul have taken

the opportunity to poke fun at the situation by offering 

"diplomas" to customers who buy two kilos of potatoes (!).

All faculty members attended.

"Bite & Release": Druggie Bites Off Cop's Pinky During Arrest, in Çorlu

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 9 August 2025) 

           A pinky's not important until you lose it!

In Çorlu district of Tekirdağ province, motorcycle police 

stopped C.B. on Fatih Boulevard in the Hısırağa neighborhood.

An amount of illegal narcotics was found on C.B.'s person so

he was taken into custody. 

However (!), as C.B. was being bundled into the police car, he

bit off policeman B.K.'s pinky finger.  B.K. and his pinky were

rushed first to Çorlu State Hospital and from there to Başakşehir

Çam ve Sakura City Hospital in Istanbul for treatment.

Meanwhile, C.B., who has a police record for various crimes,

was jailed. 

"Beat & Release": Among Iraqi Serial Killer's Victims, Daughter of Saddam's Commander and Many, Many Others, in Eskişehir

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 7 August 2025)

                       Aspired to be Iraq's Ted Bundy.

Emine Özkaya (23) went to Poland to attend a university there

but secretly returned to Istanbul on 2 December 2018, without

informing her family, and went to the home of her boyfriend

Iraqi Amjed Mohsin Mohammed in Eskişehir.  Emine hanım

was never heard from again (!). 

Now, in 2025, the blood of  a woman and four men have been

found in the Iraqi's Eskişehir home.  He was given a life sentence

in 2021 for the murder and dismemberment of Sally Ali Challab 

Al-Abbood (20), the daughter of one of Saddam Hüseyin's

commanders (!).  

Presently in the Eskişehir E-Type Prison serving a life

sentence, the Iraqi claims that he didn't know Emine hanım

but the public prosecutor asserts, based on an abundance of

evidence, that he should be tried for her murder, too. 

On the assumption that Amjed Mohsin Mohammed is a 

serial killer, DNA samples from all of his possible victims 

are being examined at the police forensic laboratory. 

The resemblance is uncanny...

"Beat & Release": Wife-killer in Trabzon Shaved Hair, Beard and Eyebrows - But Still Got Caught in a Tent in Sinop

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 4 August 2025)

            Hairless Ali Eren still had that killer look.

The dreadful incident occurred the day before yesterday in 

Trabzon's Beşikdüzü district.  Murderer Ali Eren Somun

climbed to the balcony of his estranged wife Sinem Somun

(27)'s home, entered and shot her dead with a revolver.  He

also wounded watchman E.E., who came to the scene, with

a knife. 

Police determined from camera footage that Ali Eren Somun

fled to Sinop and hid in a tent in a camping area there,

shaving off his hair, beard and eyebrows (!) to conceal his

identity.  Nevertheless, he was captured. 

Ali Eren Somun had brazenly written on social media that

the number of murdered women, previously 132, was now

"133" (!). 

"Beat & Release": Dream Car Purchase Foiled by Extortionists' Gunfire, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 3 August 2025)

In Istanbul's Küçükçekmece district, Gökhan Erol (41)  had

his heart set on buying a particular car and he put a deposit

on it, prior to arranging credit for the full purchase.  On 17

July, Erol went to the car dealership to finalize the deal.

However (!), Erol got caught in the crossfire as two individuals

hoping to extort protection money from the dealership opened

fire on the establishment.  Erol was hit and fell to the ground -

his condition remains serious. 

Police identified the suspects as M.K. (27) and M.B. (30).

They were nabbed in a raid on 29 July and taken to jail.