04.05.2026 17:37
In Diyarbakır, during the trial of Cemal Alpaslan, who killed 22-year-old İlayda Alkaş, with whom he lived in a religious marriage, by shooting her with a pistol 12 times, and who is being tried with a demand for aggravated life imprisonment, the young woman's mother complained about the defendant, while her father did not.
The trial of Cemal Alpaslan (30), who killed 22-year-old İlayda Alkaş by shooting her with a pistol after living with her in a religious marriage and then separating, has begun in the Yenişehir district of Diyarbakır.
YOUNG WOMAN KILLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET
The incident occurred on the evening of July 15, 2025, on 50th Street in the Şehitlik neighborhood of Yenişehir district. İlayda Alkaş, while returning home with her family after a friend's birthday celebration, was attacked by Cemal Alpaslan, with whom she had lived in a religious marriage and later separated. As Alkaş collapsed to the ground, Cemal Alpaslan fled. İlayda Alkaş was taken to Selahaddin Eyyubi State Hospital by an ambulance dispatched to the address following the report, but could not be saved despite all interventions. Cemal Alpaslan was caught 5 months later, on December 15, while entering Turkey at the Habur Border Gate in Şırnak. Brought to Diyarbakır, Alpaslan was arrested by the court after his procedures.
MOTHER TOOK İLAYDA TO OTHER PROVINCES TO SAVE HER
According to the claims of her mother Hülya Alkaş, İlayda Alkaş was subjected to violence by Cemal Alpaslan for months and was isolated from the outside world. It was also alleged that her father threatened Alkaş and sent her back to the same house, that Alkaş was beaten repeatedly, attempted suicide, and her father did not intervene, saying 'Throw yourself down, I am not getting involved, I don't care. Kill her if you want.' It was learned that Alkaş, while 2 months pregnant, had a miscarriage due to the beating she suffered, and due to death threats, she fled with her mother and sister to Batman, İzmir, and then Antalya.
12 BULLET ENTRIES WERE DETECTED
In the indictment prepared by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was stated that the suspect Cemal Alpaslan sat in a coffeehouse at the scene of the incident, waited for İlayda Alkaş to come home, and 12 bullet entries were found in various parts of the young woman's body. The indictment sought an aggravated life sentence for Cemal Alpaslan on the charge of 'premeditated murder of a divorced spouse.'
"SHE INSULTED ME, SWORE AT ME, I WENT CRAZY"
Cemal Alpaslan appeared before the judge for the first time at the Diyarbakır 7th Heavy Penal Court. Present at the hearing were Cemal Alpaslan and his lawyers, the Diyarbakır Bar Association Women's Rights Center, lawyers for the complainant from the Diyarbakır branch of the Lawyers Association for Freedom (ÖHD) Women's Commission, and İlayda's mother and father. Making his defense and recounting the day of the incident, Alpaslan claimed that the event happened spontaneously and expressed regret. Alpaslan stated that he heard İlayda had come to Diyarbakır and went to her house, saying, "As I entered her street, I saw a taxi stop in front of the door. My wife's brother, his wife, and a man I didn't know got out. I saw the man handing a bag to my wife. As soon as she took the bag, she saw me. She immediately started shouting and screaming. She insulted and swore at me. When she said, 'I aborted the baby, it wasn't yours anyway,' I went crazy and fired. I don't remember how many times I shot. Then I fled the scene. I wish it hadn't happened."
When asked why he had the gun with him, Alpaslan claimed he had enemies and always carried a gun for security reasons.
"THERE WAS NO CONVERSATION BETWEEN HIM AND İLAYDA, HE ENTERED THE BUILDING AND OPENED FIRE"
İlayda Alkaş's mother, Hülya Alkaş, stated that her daughter had not been allowed out anywhere for 7 years, saying, "My daughter called me and said, 'Come and save me.' I went to the police. I took my daughter with the police, and we went to a women's shelter. She told the woman at the shelter. Her brother-in-law was harassing her inside the house. Then we came home. She said, 'Dad, listen to me, please, I don't want to go there.' Her mother-in-law and father-in-law came to us. My daughter was very afraid of them. After that, my daughter returned to her husband's house. In May, my daughter came home with her face completely bruised. Her mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and husband had beaten her. They beat her in front of İlayda's father. When she arrived, she said she had miscarried her baby due to the beating. I don't know what happened there. She loved her husband. Why did they beat and kill my daughter? I am still in shock. My back was turned; he came from behind, saying 'Move aside.' He said 'Are you walking in this building, you whore?' and pulled out his gun without stopping. I didn't see his face. But I didn't hear anything like 'You killed my child.' I haven't been myself since the day İlayda was killed; since I saw that moment, I wouldn't feel it even if a car hit me. On the day of the incident, there was no conversation between him and İlayda. Cemal directly entered the building and opened fire. I am pressing charges."
FATHER DID NOT PRESS CHARGES
İlayda Alkaş's father, M.A., claimed he did not witness his daughter being beaten and stated he was not pressing charges against the defendant. When his estranged wife Hülya Al asked, 'Is your conscience clear?' M.A. replied, 'Yes, it is clear.'
WITNESS: I DON'T REMEMBER
Lawyers from the Diyarbakır Bar Association Women's Rights Center and the Ministry of Family and Social Services requested to intervene in the case. During the hearing, witness O.K., who had been at a birthday celebration at a cafe in Gazi Köşkü before the incident and was heard via the Audio and Visual Information System (SEGBİS), stated that he did not remember his previous statement that the defendant also pointed the gun at him after hearing gunshots. The court president told O.K. that his statement contradicted his previous statements and that he could not resolve this contradiction. O.K. answered, 'I don't remember,' to the questions directed at him.
HEARING POSTPONED
The prosecution, presenting its opinion, requested that the defendant be sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment and that his detention continue. The complainant's lawyers requested that no reduction whatsoever be applied to the defendant. Stating that the defendant was trying to benefit from an unjust provocation reduction, the lawyers said the defendant, wearing a suit and shaved, was assuming a 'victim role.'
Afterwards, Cemal Alpaslan, presenting his defense against the opinion, said, 'I am regretful.' The defendant's lawyers, stating they would call witnesses at the next hearing, requested an extension. After a recess, the hearing was postponed to September 21 for the defense and witness testimonies.
Additionally, the request of the Diyarbakır Bar Association Women's Rights Center to join the case was rejected. The participation of lawyers from the Ministry of Family and Social Services in the hearing was accepted.