05.05.2026 14:38
Eylem Tok, who is detained in the USA, claimed in a letter written from prison that she acted on instinct on the night of the accident and that her only goal was to protect her 16-year-old son, Timur Cihantimur. Tok alleged that they reached a settlement by "making peace" with the family of the deceased Aci.
In a traffic accident that occurred on the night of March 1, 2024, in the Eyüpsultan district of Istanbul, a car driven by 17-year-old Timur Cihantimur struck Oğuz Murat Aci. On the day of the incident, Aci lost his life, while Cihantimur fled to the USA with his mother, Eylem Tok. Tok and her son, for whom a red notice was issued, were arrested in Boston on June 14, 2024.
LETTER FROM EYLEM TOK
Eylem Tok, who is detained in Boston, wrote a letter from prison. In the letter shared by TGRT's Hanifi Bayar, Tok claimed that her only concern at the time was protecting her high school student son and stated that she had "reached a settlement with the legal heirs."
"I ACTED ON INSTINCT RATHER THAN LOGIC"
In her letter, Tok included the following statements: "I preferred to remain silent for a long time. However, as time passed, I sadly saw that the incomplete, erroneous, and biased interpretations made without considering the police and expert reports regarding what happened on the night of the accident turned into a lynching campaign. My son Timur was just a 16-year-old child preparing for the university entrance exam on the day of the accident. During the two years he has been held in prison, he completed high school and started taking university courses. At that unfortunate moment of the accident, I was a mother; I was not in a position to healthily assess what was right or wrong. I acted on my instincts rather than my logic. My only thought was to protect my scared and shaken child.
"MY SON IS A SENSITIVE, CONSCIENTIOUS, AND PURE-HEARTED CHILD"
Today, looking back, I am of course in deep reflection. If there is any mistake, the greatest responsibility lies with us, as his parents. We loved our child very much, we protected him greatly; perhaps in some moments we failed to set necessary boundaries. I carry the weight of this in my heart every day. Those who know my son know what kind of child he is. He is a sensitive, conscientious, and pure-hearted child. However, what happened that day left deep marks on his life as well. I am aware of this and I do not deny it.
I also want to openly address one of the most talked-about topics regarding me: I did not go to the accident scene. I did not receive a call from there, and I did not prevent the police from being called. Despite this, the perception that has formed deeply saddens me. Yet, the facts are clearly stated in the official reports.
"WE CONCLUDED A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE HEIRS AND RECONCILED"
It is very difficult to describe the emotions I experienced that night. My son was in shock, and I was filled with fear and panic. As I tried to understand what had happened, my mind was scattered, and my heart was constricted. I was in a state of not knowing what to do. I distanced myself for a while. This was not an escape, but an effort to find my direction in despair. However, nothing developed as I thought. I know that the greatest pain in this incident belongs to the family of Oğuz Murat Aci, who lost his life. As a mother, I feel with all my heart that the pain they experience is indescribable. I pray for God's mercy upon him and patience for his family. I know there is no compensation for this loss. However, I want to state that we reconciled by making a settlement agreement with the legal heirs.
A mother's effort to protect her own child does not lessen another family's pain. I am aware of this and am trying to learn to live with this reality.
"WE DID NOT INTENTIONALLY HARM ANYONE"
Throughout my life, I have devoted effort to children; I tried to understand and protect them. That night, my son was also a child... And I only wanted to protect him. Perhaps I fell short, perhaps I made mistakes... I reckon with this every day and every night.
I want to express this with all sincerity: We did not intentionally harm anyone.
The events throughout this process were not only a legal but also a profound human test. The things said and the comments made about us have sometimes exhausted me greatly. However, I hold no grudge against anyone. Because people often see not the truth, but what is told to them.
My heart is open to everyone. I ask for forgiveness from anyone I have hurt or upset. My only wish is for the truth to be known and for hearts to soften somewhat.
I ask that these lines be seen not as a defense, but as emotions pouring from a mother's heart."