"Lock & (No) Release": Wife Locked Hubby in Kitchen and Set House Ablaze, in Aydın

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Cumhuriyet Newspaper, 16 September 2026)

"I told him to learn how to cook or die trying!"

Derya Çiçek (31)—the injured wife of Mazlum Çiçek (32), who lost 

his life in a house fire in the Efeler district of Aydın—was arrested on 

charges of "intentional killing of a spouse" after being referred to the 

courthouse following her medical treatment. In her statement, Derya

hanım claimed that her husband, Mazlum Çiçek, had locked himself 

in the kitchen, poured fuel on himself, and set himself on fire. (!)

A fire broke out around 04:00 on August 16 in a second-floor apartment 

of a building on 1067 Street in the İstiklal Neighborhood. Upon 

notification, fire, medical, and police teams were dispatched to the scene. 

Firefighters extinguished the blaze in approximately one hour. An 

inspection of the apartment revealed that Mazlum Çiçek had lost his life.

Derya hanım, who was injured in the fire, was taken to the hospital 

after receiving initial medical attention at the scene.

As part of the investigation into the fire, an inspection of the home 

revealed that the door to the kitchen—where Mazlum Çiçek's body was 

found—was locked (!). Additionally, it was determined that Derya Çiçek 

had packed a bag containing valuables before leaving the house during 

the fire. Reports indicated that the day before the fire, she had gone to 

a gas station and purchased gasoline in a canister, claiming, "My husband 

is with the car; we ran out of gas, so I came to get some." (!!)

First (and last) time he ever went into the kitchen...

Expanding the scope of the investigation, the Aydın Chief Public 

Prosecutor's Office ordered Derya hanım's detention. Authorities are 

investigating the suspicion that she poured fuel in the kitchen, set it 

ablaze, and locked Mazlum Çiçek inside.

Derya hanım, who had been receiving treatment at İzmir City Hospital, 

was discharged. Upon being referred to the courthouse, she stated in her 

testimony that she and Mazlum Çiçek frequently quarreled over jealousy 

and that her husband often spoke of wanting to commit suicide; she 

claimed she had gone to the gas station at Mazlum Çiçek's insistence. 

Çiçek said, "Mazlum forced me to go to the gas station and buy gasoline. 

Afterward, he locked the door, poured the fuel, and set himself on fire."

Police sketch artist's rendering of the Çiçek couple's relationship:

Çiçek was arrested and sent to prison on the charge of "intentional killing 

of a spouse." Upon hearing the court's decision at the courthouse, Derya 

hanım said, "I will never set foot in there; my life is ruined anyway. Don't 

film me and humiliate me. God damn you, Mazlum. May you find no 

peace in that grave; you’ve destroyed my life. I didn't do anything. 

The truth will come out."