"Revolve & Release": Film Set With "Kaaba" Look-alike Draws Moslem Pilgims, in Kocaeli

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 1 June 2026)

                               Transplanted sanctity.

In Çayırova district of Kocaeli province, a set for the film "İslamiyet'in

Doğuşu" (The Birth of Islam) has been erected and includes a black cube 

that resembles the Kabe (Kaaba) in Mecca, to the extent that citizens

are encircling the cube to perform "tavaf", the ceremony of going around

the Kaaba at Mecca (!). 

Workers on the set playing music are being scolded by citizens for 

disturbing the "sanctity of the Kaaba".  One worker lamented that 

"We were listening to music while working. A man came and told us to 

turn off the music, saying this place was sacred. Then he called the police. 

We built this place, and now they're performing the pilgrimage."

The resemblance is uncanny...

E

Another worker related that "Sometimes we take off our undershirts 

because of the heat. We get reactions like, 'How can you do that in a 

place like this!' This isn't real, it's a model. There are some very strange 

people here."

A lot less expensive than going all the way to Mecca.

"Backfire & Release": He Shot at a Snake But Ricochets Injured 5 People Instead, in Siverek

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 31 May 2026)

Police sketch of H.Ö. in action...that's E.Y. in back of him.

In  Siverek district of Şanlıurfa province, H.Ö. (56) tried to kill a snake

he spotted in his garden with his hunting rifle, but he wounded 5 people,

including 3 children, instead (!). 

The incident occurred in Üstüntaş village.  When H.Ö. shot at the snake

the ricochets hit R. Ö. (59), E.Y. (31), Y.B. (4), M.S.Y. (4) and F.E. (6). 

The injured individuals were taken to Siverek State Hospital - all are

said to be in good condition. H.Ö. was taken into custody, and an inquiry

into the incident has been initiated. 

"Hide & Release": Sacrificial Cow Dodges the Knife, After Falling in Old Dynamite Pit, in Gümüşhane

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Tek Haber Agency website, 29 May 2026)

"Plan? What plan?...heh heh heh."

A sacrificial cow that went missing eight days ago after separating 

from its herd in Köse district of Gümüşhane was found in a dynamite 

storage pit belonging to an old dam construction site. The animal, 

which was rescued from where it was trapped with the help of an 

excavator, was determined to have survived for days by drinking only 

rainwater.  Having lost weight , the cow was spared from the Feast of

Sacrifice "festivities" (!). 

The cow ,belonging to Ömer Faruk Kesler, a livestock breeder in the 

district, went missing after straying from its herd. Kesler searched for 

days, with the support of Gendarmerie teams, but the search in the 

forested and mountainous areas yielded no results. Despite having a 

bell around its neck, the animal's cries went unheard for days. It was 

eventually found in an old construction site near where it disappeared.

A shepherd grazing his herd in the area noticed the sound, leading to 

the discovery of the animal in a dynamite storage pit. The cow, which 

had survived for eight days without food, relying only on rainwater, 

prompted a rescue operation.

                           Lives to graze another day.

The walls of the warehouse were demolished with the help of an excavator 

called to the scene, and the cow was safely removed from where it had 

fallen. The moments when the freed animal immediately began grazing 

on the grass, and the rescue process itself, were captured on the cell phone 

cameras of onlookers.

Livestock breeder Ömer Faruk Kesler, who was reunited with his animal 

after a search, expressed his happiness with these words:

“We searched everywhere for days. We looked everywhere, near and far. 

But this was fate. We found it near us. I'm sure it went through very difficult 

times. Thank God we found it. Because it was so thin, we gave up on 

sacrificing it.”

"Meat & Release": Where's The Beef?! Stolen in Traffic!, in Adana

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 29 May 2026)

        Mobile butcher shop...and five-finger discount.

In Adana's Yüreğir district, Ümit Ö. jumped onto the back of  Bekir

Ç.'s truck and stole 40 kilograms of meat (!) when the truck stopped

at a red light. Ümit Ö. then fled with the meat on the motorcycle

belonging to his accomplice Coşkun S. 

However (!),  police reviewed surveillance video from the scene

and nabbed the two meat thieves. During their questioning at the police 

station, the suspects allegedly said, "We barbecued some of the meat 

and sold the rest." Following the proceedings, Ümit Ö. and Coşkun S. 

were referred to the courthouse and subsequently arrested by the court.

Heading to the slammer with tummies full of BBQ. 

"Alice & Release": Instead of a Rabbit Hole, She Fell Into a Well, in Konya

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 28 May 2026)

        Feride hanım in...and then out of Wonderland.

In Konya's Ereğli district, Feride Ballı (55) fell into an empty well.

Her relatives notified police and rescue teams arrived to extract her from

the well after a 1.5-hour effort. She was taken to Ereğli State Hospital

for treatment of  some minor wounds suffered in the fall. 

"Fickle Fate & (No) Release": Jack Fails, Bus Crushes Senegalese Mechanic, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sabah Newspaper, 27 May 2026)

        Angel of Death came all the way from Senegal.

Seringue Fallou Gueye, a Senegalese national working as a bus 

mechanic at Esenler Bus Terminal, died after being crushed under 

a malfunctioning passenger bus while repairing it. It has been 

learned that Gueye's body will be buried in Senegal. 

However (!), his friend, Karim Diop, said, "The bus company didn't 

help, they didn't even call. It will cost $4,000 to transport the body to 

Senegal. This is a workplace accident."

The incident occurred at approximately 7:00 PM on May 20th. 

Allegedly, the driver of a passenger bus that departed from the terminal 

stopped on the road after a while, and when the vehicle wouldn't start, 

he called for a mobile auto electrician, Seringue Fallou Gueye, a 

Senegalese national.

No.

Gueye, who had lifted the bus with a jack and crawled underneath it, 

was crushed under tons of weight when the bus fell on top of him. 

Bystanders rushed to help, and citizens used a jack to free Gueye from 

where he was trapped. After receiving treatment from paramedics who

arrived at the scene, Gueye was taken to the hospital with serious 

injuries and died around 5:00 AM. Police have launched an investigation 

into the incident.

The body of Seringue Fallou Gueye was received by his friends. Diop, 

a friend who stated that the bus company did not help, said, "I want help. 

The bus company didn't help, they didn't even call. This is a workplace 

accident. We weren't helped. We need $4,000 to transport the body. My 

friend had four children in Senegal. They are also in a difficult situation. 

As his friends, we are saddened. We are asking for help from the 

government."

"Surprise & Release": As May Ends, 7 Meters of Snow Fall, in Şırnak

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 26 May 2026)

                       Maybe it'll melt by wintertime...

In Beytüşşebap district of Şırnak, snow accumulations exceeding 

7 meters (!) in some high-altitude areas on the road to Tuzluca village 

are being cleared to ensure continued transportation.

In the Lise Tayrı region of Tuzluca village, which is part of Beytüşşebap 

district, teams from the Provincial Special Administration are clearing 

the accumulated snow masses on the road with heavy machinery. The 

teams are having difficulty carrying out the work due to snow 

accumulations exceeding 7 meters in some high-altitude areas. It was 

stated that the road is being widened at points where snow walls have 

formed on the Kato-Tuzluca line, and cleaning and leveling are being 

carried out on curves and passes to ensure safe passage. Officials reported 

that the work continues depending on weather conditions.

Merchants in town looking for their New Year's decorations.