13.02.2026 14:54
Melek Akarmut, known as 'Mardin's Marilyn Monroe', who was sentenced to 2 years in prison for 'violating the privacy of private life' after sharing images on social media of a taxi driver running over a dog sleeping on the sidewalk, has been released.
The 'Mardin Marilyn Monroe' known as Melek Akarmut, who was sentenced to 2 years in prison for sharing images of the taxi driver who ran over a dog, has been released.
TAXI DRIVER RAN OVER THE DOG AND FLED The incident occurred on May 26, 2024, in the Üçyol area of 1st Avenue in the Artuklu district. The driver of the taxi with the license plate 47 BNR 902 parked part of his vehicle parallel to the road on the sidewalk to pick up a customer. After the customer got in, the taxi moved and ran over a dog sleeping on the sidewalk. Those moments were captured on camera. As the dog tried to escape, bystanders reacted to the driver. The taxi driver, who claimed he did not see the dog, was identified by the teams of the Environmental, Nature, and Animal Protection Bureau of the Provincial Security Directorate. The unnamed taxi driver was fined under the article of the Animal Protection Law No. 5199, which states 'leaving the scene of an accident after hitting an animal without providing assistance.'
SHE SHARED THE FOOTAGE OF THE INCIDENT AND REACTED Melek Akarmut, known as 'Mardin Marilyn Monroe,' also shared the security camera footage from her workplace regarding the incident and reacted to the situation. The taxi driver filed a lawsuit against Akarmut for 'violating the privacy of private life' due to her sharing the footage. In the case, the court sentenced Akarmut to 2 years in prison for 'violating the privacy of individuals.' After the decision, Akarmut announced that she surrendered to the Elazığ Campus Open Penitentiary Institution on January 15 with a video she recorded.
"HE RAN OVER MY DOG TWICE" Melek Akarmut was released after spending 27 days in prison. After her release, Akarmut came to her workplace and shared her experience with a DHA reporter. Akarmut said, "My dog was sleeping on the sidewalk, and the taxi had also gone up on the sidewalk, waiting there for 15 minutes. It picked up its passenger. As seen in the video, there were also 2 little girls. The taxi driver drove directly over the dog. I ran out at the dog's scream, and he had to back up because of my reaction. It would have been better if he had gone forward; he ran over the dog a second time when he went back. Of course, I reacted and said, 'Did you not see, what are you doing on the sidewalk?' The man calmly said, 'I did not see.' His wife was also yelling at me from behind, saying, 'My children were disturbed, they were scared,' and cursed at me. In the camera and audio recording, I said, 'You insulted me, I will take you to court.' The people gathered there told me, 'Don't interfere, we will handle it.' Concerned citizens went to the police station to file a complaint, but they did not take their complaint because the dog was not there."
"THE MAN COMMITTED MANY CRIMES, I SUFFERED THE CONSEQUENCES" Akarmut stated that the taxi driver asked her for 100,000 lira as a settlement fee and that she received a penalty for not giving this money. She said:
"I did not know that the incident would escalate this much, so the man asked me for 100,000 lira as a settlement fee. If I had given the 100,000 lira, I would not have gone to prison. The man ran over my dog twice and did not take any responsibility for its treatment. He just left, and even when he was leaving, a woman tried to stop him, and he almost ran over her too. The man is committing many crimes, and I am the one suffering the consequences. I have been to prison twice. What did I do to deserve this? I am protecting and defending the rights of animals. I take care of many lives. I have a cat shelter. I take care of street animals with the income from my workplace. I think I am doing something good. Let them do what they know; I will continue to take care of street animals. If I had defended myself or had 100,000 lira, I would not have gone to prison and received such a sentence. We had dinner in prison. They called out 'Melek Akarmut.' I went to see what happened, thinking 'Did something go wrong?' I do not remember how I got to the 3rd floor. I asked the officer what happened, and he said, 'You are being released.' I was in shock, 'Is this a joke or something?' I knelt down and cried. It was very hard for me. God bless them; they were very concerned and very helpful. They did not leave me outside until my husband came from Mardin. They hosted me at their home. I came back and reunited with my children. I am very happy. During my time in prison, I spent my time knitting. I did not stay idle; I made this knitwear I am wearing in 9 days. I wanted to be an example to the other women; I advise them to spend their days productively instead of sleeping."