"Beat & Release": Spanish YouTuber Pummeled by Camera-shy Thugs, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 31 October 2025)

Some hard-earned action footage for his YouTube account.

At around noon on 14 June in the Bülbül neighborhood of  Tarlabaşı 

in Istanbul's Beyoğlu district, Spanish YouTuber R.D.V. (28) and a 

friend were passing through the neighborhood on a motorcycle. A

local resident took exception to their filming, but R.D.V. pressed on.

However (!), he was pursued by N.A. (17) and Sinan Çağrı B. (24)

who pulled R.D.V. from his motorcycle and beat him, as well as 

his friend.  Police arrived at the scene and nabbed the two attackers.

Nevertheless, Sinan Çağrı B., who has a police record of 7 crimes,

was released (!), while N.A., who has a record of 25 crimes (!),

was delivered to a reform school (better late than never, but better

never late!)

"Rocks & Release": Ancient Roman Rocks Found in Village House's Foundation, in Burdur

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Yeni Şafak Newspaper, 29 October 2025)

  When you build a foundation, a rock is a rock.

In Yarışlı village in Burdur province's Yeşilova district, which is near 

to the Takina Antique City and Lake Salda, villagers took rocks from 

the ancient town to build their homes in the 1950s. 

In 1970, archaeologists identified a message from Roman Emperor 

Caracalla, who ruled between 198 and 217 AD, on one of the rocks.

Ten such "Roman rocks" in the house's foundation have been 

documented by the Burdur Museum Directorate, which had told

the village chief and the homeowner that if and when the house is

torn down the museum will take care of the "Roman rocks".  No

one is currently living in this house.

                         Probably a lawyer's shingle.

Ferhat Ağıl (65) said that his father-in-law related the story of the 

house's construction and he explained that: "I married his daughter

in 1988 and he gave this house to us.  When my wife died, the house

was put in our daughter's name." 

"The rocks for the foundation were brought here by my in-laws from

a place we call "Asar Tepe".  About 22 years ago, a message came

from the museum telling us we had to watch over the rocks until

the house was torn down.  At one time, archeologists came from 

Istanbul and they told me that these rocks are from Roman times."

"My in-laws were living in this house during the 1971 earthquake.

The rocks had been brought by horse-carts because when the 

house was built, only a few people had tractors. The rocks with

writing on them were placed facing the road and then their value

was noticed.  I haven't seen such rocks anywhere else."

"Work & Release": Garbage-collecting Donkeys Retiring, in Mardin

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 28 October 2025)

    Like all prospective retirees, counting the days until...

In Mardin's Artuklu neighborhood, the trash has been collected by 

donkeys because of the narrowness of the streets and the steep stairs. 

Now, though, the donkeys are being retired, to be replaced by small

electric vehicles capable of climbing steps. 

Artuklu Mayor Mehmet Ali Amak made this announcement in 

connection with an agreement made with HAYTAP (animal 

protection society): "We are establishing an Animal Retirement

Farm for the animals where they can live and receive treatment.

The donkeys that have worked for 7 years have earned the 

retirement right." (!)

"Beat & Release": 3 Years Later, Elder Brother Avenges His Younger's Death, in Bursa

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 26 October 2025)

  

                  Vengeance has a looooong memory.

In Bursa's İnegöl district, Onur Y. exacted revenge on Barış A. (31),

who had hit and killed Onur bey's little brother Uras (12) with his

car three years ago while the youngster was riding his bicycle. 

On 19 August 2022,  Uras was descending a hill on Doğancılar 

Avenue in the Fatih neighborhood of İnegöl on his bike when Barış 

bey's car hit him. 

Yesterday at about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, Onur bey went to

Barış bey's residence and fired on him with a "pompalı tüfenk"

(pump-action rifle), hitting his right leg.  Onur bey then fled the

scene, while Barış bey was taken to a hospital for treatment. 

Police found Onur bey's car abandoned about 3 kilometers away

and are now searching for the fugitive. 

"Fleece & Release": Signing For Flowers From Her "Son", She Signed Away Her Nest Egg, in Adana

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 26 October 2025)

                                  Very expensive flowers. 

In Adana, a police anti-fraud team determined the identities of three

fraudsters who bilked seven victims with promises of cooperative

work and romance out of 8,820,000 TL (about $210,000): Halil B.

(48), his girlfriend Nuray F. (40) and Zeynel Abidin T. (38).   

A raid on their addresses resulted in them being taken into custody 

and the recovery of 21 deeds, 1,620,000 TL-worth of promisory notes

and a large amount of digital material. 

For example, on 8 March 2022, Halil B. and Nuray F. sent flowers to 

Şükran Candan (58) ostensibly to celebrate World Women's Day.  

Disguised as a courier, Nuray F. delivered the flowers to Şükran hanım 

and tricked her into signing away $95,000 worth of her holdings. (!)  

Şükran hanım thought the flowers had come from her son, so she 

signed for the flowers without a second thought.  Only later did

she realize she had been hoodwinked and, checking "e-Devlet"

(Turkey's electronic database for citizens), Şükran hanım saw that

her summer home and four other homes, along with an automobile

and a motorcycle, had been sequestered. (!)

Once police identified and captured the culprits, the three of them 

were jailed. 

"Beat & Release": Born Killer Paints a Horrific Picture, in Zonguldak

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 25 October 2025)

                      All's well that ends well (NOT!)

On 29 October, villagers who went to graze their livestock in the

countryside near Koraman village in Zonguldak's Çaycuma district,

found a dead body in a well.  It turned out that the body was that of

Hasret Akkuzu (17), who had been missing since 12 October. The 

body was taken to Ankara for an autopsy at the police forensic lab.

Upon investigating, police determined the prime suspect to be

Deniz Boyacı (whose surname means "house painter"), who went to 

prison at age 17 in 2001 for the murder of four people.  Boyacı 

remained in prison until 2016, but was soon incarcerated again, 

this time in a light security jail, from where he escaped. 

Six of Boyacı's relatives and friends were taken into custody . On

22 October, his mother, brother, and Hasret hanım's friend 

gave statements to the public prosecutor and were then released.

Boyacı's elder brother, his sister-in-law and the owner of the car

used in the incident were all jailed for attempting to cover up the

murder.

That same day, Boyacı himself was captured in Aydin and returned

to Zonguldak.  The day before yesterday, Boyacı was taken to the

well where Hasret hanım's body had been found and confessed,

"explaining" that "we argued so I strangled her and threw her into

the well." (!)

Yesterday morning Boyacı was put in prison.  After the autopsy in

Ankara, Hasret hanım's body was brought to Kızılbel village and

buried in the cemetery there. 

"Beat & Release": Broken Headlight Leads Police to Villain in "Death of The Jackal" Incident, in Kastamonu

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 24 October 2025)

İbrahim "The Jackal", above, rests in peace, thanks

to some great policework.

                           

In İhsangazi district of Kastamonu province on 20 October,  the dead

body of İbrahim Çakal (whose surname means "jackal") was found on

the side of a highway.  Police investigators at the scene found some

parts of a broken headlight and matched them to the type of vehicle

they presumed had hit Çakal. 

However (!), since there were no cameras in place at the incident scene, 

spolice had to review 230 hours-worth of video from cameras 

10 kilometers away, by means of which they identified 13 vehicles.  

Further investigations using the PTS (license plate ID system) narrowed 

the search to 2 vehicles.

One ot the two suspected vehicles was being repaired in Bartın and 

its broken headlight was a match for the parts found at the incident

scene, resulting in the arrest of minibus driver M.Ö., who was brought

back to Kastamonu and jailed. 

Had been begging for some sort of sequel.

"Swim & Release": Swede Starts Swimming (!) from Istanbul to Stockholm; Arrival Set for 2036

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Diken website 20 October 2025)

 

          Fishermen agree: "These Europeans are nuts."

Jari Cennet Tammi, a 66-year-old swimmer who set out from Istanbul

to swim from Turkey to Sweden, has reached Çanakkale.  Tammi came

to Turkey in 2023 to explore new places after swimming 541 

kilometers from Stockholm to Helsinki, Finland.  He began swimming 

from Istanbul to Stockholm last year with the idea of ​​swimming all 

the way and managed to reach Çanakkale despite some setbacks.

The Swedish swimmer also carries canned fish, hazelnuts, dates, 

biscuits, corn, and soup noodles in  his bag, as well as small camping 

stove for cooking, a phone, a solar panel to charge his GPS device, 

a sufficient amount of water, and various vitamins. Tammi aims to 

reach Sweden in 2036 (!). 

                  What to do will all that spare time?

His thoughts:

* Swimming on the same beach, in the same sea, is boring. You see 

new things every day as you travel this route. I'm 66 years old. I'll be 

77 when I get to Stockholm. It's a very long journey (true!)

* I started swimming in Istanbul because Alanya is so far away. 

I decided to swim in the Marmara Sea because I thought it would be 

much easier. It was supposed to feel like a vacation, but there were 

winds, big waves, and other problems. It's 18,000 kilometers from

here to Stockholm.

* I swim 1,500 kilometers a year. It would take me 2036 to swim 

from here to Stockholm. I can't lead a normal life. I can't live in an 

apartment.

* I've been doing this since 2021, and it's become a part of my life. 

I've been living in a tent for four years. I don't see myself returning to 

a normal life. My tent is my home.

Lots of no-swim parts. Hmmmmm...

"Heat & Release": Firefighter Drapes Marriage Proposal Banner on His Truck, in Antalya

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 22 October 2025)

Love aflame. Just hope there's not a real one raging nearby.

In Antalya's Serik district, forest worker Ismail Deveci (23) hung a 

huge banner on an "arazöz" (from the French " arroseuse"  - large 

water tanker generally used to fight forest fires.) proposing marriage 

to  his girlfriend Ayşe Nur Aytaç (22).

When Ayşe Nur hanım said "yes!" Deveci and his friends danced

and played music.  İsmail bey said he's been waiting for six years

to pop the question (!)..

The wedding planner:

"Eat & Release": While Feeding Chickens, Elderly Woman Fell Into a Well But Survived, in Kartal

türkçe  links to original Turkish article

(Sabah Newspaper, 21 October 2025)

                 The well that swallowed Fatma hanım...

In Kartal district of Istanbul at about 1 o'clock in the afternoon

yesterday, Fatma Akyıldız (74) went to look after the chickens

in an empty lot on Kızılırmak Street in the Esentepe neighborhood.

However  (!), Fatman hanım fell into an uncovered 5-meter deep

well in the garden of a 3-story vacant building that is being 

reconstructed.   

Firefighters arrived at the scene and worked for about an hour

to rescue Fatma hanım from the well.  She was taken to a hospital

and is in good condition, although there were some "breaks" in

various parts of her body. 

                              ...and spit her out alive.

"Cheat & Release": Neighbor's Call Prompted DNA Tests That Confirmed Kıds' Two Different Fathers, in Antalya

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 20 October 2025)

                                   In happier days...

In Antalya's Kepez district, Hüseyin A. (43) married Ş.T. (35) in

2007 and the couple brought three children, two of them girls,

into the world.  

However (!), when the couple divorced in 2023 a neighbor phoned

Hüseyin bey to say that his ex-wife Ş.T. had been having an affair 

with her cousin M.K. and advised Hüseyin Bey to get DNA tests 

done to determine who the children's father really is. 

              Mom's the same, anyway.

The DNA tests were done and Hüseyin bey's son E.A. (16) was

confirmed to be his.  However (!) both girls' father turned out to

be M.K., their mother's cousin.  

Ş.T. passed away last August and M.K. is not accepting fatherhood

of the girls. The next court hearing on the case is scheduled for

3 December. 

Coincidentally, M.K. manages a stud farm...

"Kidnap & Release": Engaged Moroccan Couple Held Four Days by Afghan Kidnappers, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 19 October 2025) 

He'll be lucky to be sent back to Kabul, rather than a Turkish jail.

In Istanbul's Eyüpsultan district on 8 October at about 3 o'clock in the

afternoon, neighbors heard a woman's screams in Arabic coming from 

a building under construction.  The woman was next seen jumping from

a window, which prompted the neighbors to call the police, who arrived

to arrange medical care for the woman after her leap from the building's

first floor. 

Based on statements from the woman, Moroccan citizen A.H. (30), 

police entered the building and found her fiancé H.R. (29) with his

arms and legs bound by rope.  The couple was taken care of by the

police and the building searched, with 4 cellphones, a knife and an

unlicensed revolver recovered. 

The engaged couple had come to Istanbul as tourists, but were 

kidnapped by an Afghan gang and held hostage for 4 days, with 

their arms and legs bound.  The hostage-takers demanded $18,000

from the couple's families as ransom.

Subsequently, police tracked down Afghan Z.Ş. (18) and took him

into custody, recovering 3 of the couple's cellphones in the process.

Istanbul is just about in the middle of Morocco and Afghanistan

 

"Beat & Release": Driver Blatantly Hits Motorcyclist But Claims He Was "Unaware", in Antalya

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 18 October 2025)

                         An accident made-to-order.

On 15 July in Antalya's Muratpaşa neighborhood, motorcyclist 

Mehmet Tekelioğlu and driver Ahmet Doğru argued as they

proceeded in traffic.  Doğru then swerved radically to hit

Tekelioğlu and knock him and his motorcycle to the ground. 

Doğru and U.S., sitting next to him in the car, fled the scene.

Tekelioğlu was pronounced dead, while Doğru was jailed and

U.S. was released.  However, Tekelioğlu's family asked the

public prosecutor to jail U.S. too.  Facing a judge, Doğru

claimed that "I didn't notice I'd hit a motorcycle.  I certainly

didn't do so intentionally." (!)

As for U.S., he had this to say: "Our window was open and

we were listening to music.  Then, this motorcyclist came 

along side us and started cursing us. In response, I said to 

him 'hey, old fellow, are you talking to me?!'  He then spit 

at me."

U.S. a big fan of Travis Bickle.

T.K., In the back seat of the car at the time of the incident,

"explained" that "I only met Ahmet Doğru a couple of days

before the incident.  But I was sleeping when the indicent 

happened, although I did hear U.S.and the motorcyclist 

cursing at one another."

"Beat & Release": Inveterate "Spiderman-esque" Robbers Nabbed, in Kadıköy

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 17 October 2025)

                   Spider-sensing an open window above.

In the Merdivenköy neighborhood of Kadıköy, Istanbul, on 

26 September and 2 October, thieves scaled the walls of 

apartment buildings like Spiderman to enter through open 

windows and steal thousands of dollars worth of goods, cash and 

jewelry. On 26 September, they even found their victim's car keys 

and stole his parked car (!).

However (!),  police succeeded in catching H.Y. (26), who has

a police record of 104 crimes (which must be a record itself),

and D.C.K. (31), with a police record of "only" 16 crimes.

Both of them were jailed (but for how long?!).

H.Y. not bashful about his Spiderman fetish.

"Beat & Release": Balkan War Re-Erupts 114 Years Later!, in Adana

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 16 October 2025)

                     The Balkans - always a tinderbox.

In Adana's Yüreğir district on 13 October at about 2030 hours, 

an argument erupted between Hüseyin Balkan (38) and his

cousin Resul Balkan (35) , who was pressuring Hüseyin bey

to get a job (!).   After the argument, Resul bey and his friend

Uğurcan Uğur (28) attacked Hüseyin bey with a brickbat.  

During the altercation, Hüseyin bey was stabbed in his back

and fell to the ground, as his attackers fled.  Hüseyin bey was

taken to a hospital but died there.   Police determined that the

killers were hiding out in the Sarıçam district of the city and 

nabbed them in a raid. 

In his statement to police, Resul bey "explained" that "I wanted

him to stop loafing and get a job.  He reacted by cursing me so

I hit him with a brickbat.  I don't know how he got stabbed." (!)

As for Uğurcan bey, he claimed not to have intervened in the

cousins' fight.  Nevertheless, both Resul bey and Uğurcan bey

were jailed.  An investigation is underway to determine who

stabbed Hüseyin bey. 

"Read & Release": Comparative Literary Truck Driving, in Eskişehir

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 14 October 2025)

           On the road, getting to know his fellow humans.

Ferhat Ogün Soydar graduated with a degree in comparative

literature from Osmangazi University in Eskişehir, but he has been

driving a TIR (tractor-trailer) for five years.  When he first entered

the university, his heart was not set on comparative literature but

it was his best option then. 

As his schooling progressed, though, Soydar felt the need for a

job outside of academia, where opportunities are quite limited.

In any case, he graduated and related that "when I got married I

had to have a steady job so I tried  a number of different things,

like being a watchman at a port and working on a factory loading

dock."

"Finally, I decided to pursue my father's truck-driving profession

and I've been happily doing it for 5 years."  Nevertheless, 

wherever Soydar goes he takes a book and reads it during rest

stops. 

Eskişehir is in the middle of everywhere.

"Stuck & Release": Portuguese Tourist, Marooned in Crevice, Rescued After 6-Hour Effort, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 13 October 2025)

Of all the sights to see in Istanbul...

In Istanbul's Beyoğlu district, a man entered a tight space at the 

entrance of the Kasımpaşa-Hasköy tunnel and got stuck. He

went further into the crevice and remained there for a number of

days.  Finally, his cries for help were heard on the morning of 

11 October and he was freed after a 6-hour effort by rescuers. 

With the help of a translator, the man identified himself as 

Caires Ferraiera (45) and explained that he is a citizen of Portugal,

having arrived in Turkey at Izmir's Adnan Menderes Airport in 

August.  From Izmir he came to Istanbul but lost his passport. He

took to living on the street as he searched for the Portuguese 

Embassy, which he thought was located in Kasımpaşa district. 

After paperwork is completed Ferraiera will be expelled from

Turkey (!). 

...Portuguese tourists seek out the Kasımpaşa-Hasköy Tunnel.

"Flee & Release": Fugitive, On the Lam for 11 Years, Nabbed by High-tech Cameras, in Van

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 12 October 2025)

             N.T.'s first words: "What took you so long..."

In Bahçesaray district of Van province, a Gendarmerie JASAT team

nabbed a fugitive on the run for 11 years by using high-tech methods.

The criminal, N.T., was wanted for the murder of Tekin Orhan and

had eluded capture by living in the mountains and hiding in various

towns.  

However, the Gendarmerie got a tip that N.T. was hiding in a house

in Van and determined by the use of  ground-penetrating and thermal

cameras that the fugitive was in a secret room under a chair in the 

living room.  N.T. was arrested and delivered to a prison. 

Bahçesaray: smack dab in the middle of nowhere.

"Spendthrift & Release": Turk Won 9.9 Million in German Lottery; His Ferrari Just Got Shot Up, in Dortmund

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 10 October 2025)

Ordinary Ferrari, lacking the macho "bullet hole" look.

Turk Kürşat Yıldırım, who also goes by the nickname "Çiko",

won the German lottery in 2022, reaped a 9.9 million Euro 

bonanza, and began to live a lavish lifestyle.  He spent the money 

on  buildings, flats, a hazel nut field, and luxury clothes.  

However (!), when he decided to sell his Ferrari automobile

because of its excessive expenses, he couldn't find a buyer so he

just parked the 200,000 Euro car on the street.  As fate would

have it, on 7 October in Dortmund, the Ferrari was hit by eight

bullets fired by an unknown attacker.  

Just the day before Yıldırım had spent 13,000 Euros on 

maintenance for the car (!).  Police are doing ballistic tests on the

bullets in hopes of getting a lead on the gunman's identity. 

A beleaguered Yıldırım lamented that "I've seen a lot in my time,

but I've never seen anything like this." in reference to the attack

on his Ferrari. 

Bullet holes give it even more panache!  Up the asking price!

"Feast & Release": Thief's Heist Foiled by Stubborn Door, So He Settled for a Snack, in Burdur

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 10 October 2025)

                      Fine dining...and the price is right.

In Burdur yesterday at about 0430 in the morning, a man broke into

a market by smashing the front window. However (!), when the 

thief could not get through the door to the inner part of the market,

he settled for a snack of soda, chips and ice cream he found.

When market employees arrived at 0630,  they alerted the police to

the break-in.  In short order, the thief was arrested, brought before

a judge and jailed (on a full stomach anyway). 

"Freeze! & Repatriate": Illegal Afghan Migrants Seized from Fake Refrigeration Truck, in Diyarbakır

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 9 October 2025)

               The migrants who came in from the cold.

In Diyarbakır, police stopped a light truck disguised as a refrigeration

vehicle and captured 11 Afghans hidden in a special compartment. In

addition to the illegal migrants, two individuals involved were taken 

into custody and subsequently jailed. 

The illegal migrants were taken to the repatriation center in Şanlıurfa

from where they will be expelled from Turkey. 

Consult your travel agency for your best route...

"Beat & Release": Hubby Kills Wife and Flees to Forest - Where Nature Took Revenge, in Trabzon

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 7 October 2025)

Ironically, Mustafa bey's animal instincts backfired on him.

On 9 August in Trabzon's Vakfıkebir district, Mustafa Sağlam

(38) argued with his wife Tuğba (35)  in front of their home,

shot her dead with a rifle, and fled.   Subsequently, the 

Gendarmerie pursued Mustafa bey into a forest but were unable

to find him for two months.   

However (!),  a few days ago, the body of a male ravaged by

wild animals was found in the woods near Karatepe village.

The body was sent to the Trabzon forensic lab, where it was

determined that the body was that of Mustafa bey.