16.01.2026 08:20
In the attack where Public Prosecutor Muhammed Çağatay Kılıçarslan shot Judge Aslı Kahraman in her office at the Istanbul Regional Court of Appeals, the convict tea maker Yakup Karadağ, who prevented a second shot from being fired, spoke. Karadağ said, "At first, I thought it was a joke; when I understood the seriousness, I intervened."
In the incident that occurred at the Istanbul Regional Court of Appeals, Prosecutor Muhammed Çağatay Kılıçarslan fired a weapon at Regional Court of Appeals member Judge Aslı Kahraman. The attacking prosecutor was prevented from committing murder by a prisoner tea server working at the courthouse when he attempted to fire a second time. The prisoner tea server Yakup Karadağ, who described those moments, stated that he initially thought it was a joke being played on the female judge, and when he realized the seriousness of the situation, he intervened.
"I THOUGHT IT WAS A JOKE"
Speaking to NTV, Karadağ said, "I had entered to get the empties. At that moment, the Judge had asked me for help. At first, I didn't think anyone would attack the Judge in the courthouse. I thought it was a joke. When I fully realized the seriousness of the situation, I felt the need to intervene."
"WE CAN ALSO BE USEFUL TO SOCIETY"
Karadağ also emphasized that there is a negative perception of prisoners in society, saying:
"We are convicts, and inevitably we can start 1-0 behind. But sometimes prisoners can do good things. They can prevent some things. We can also be useful to society. There should be no doubt that we will make an effort because we can be useful."
INJURED JUDGE DISCHARGED
Meanwhile, Judge Aslı Kahraman was discharged after her treatment. Prosecutor Muhammed Kılıçarslan was arrested on charges of "attempted murder."
WHAT HAD HAPPENED?
Judge Aslı Kahraman, a member of the 23rd Criminal Chamber of the Istanbul Regional Court of Appeals, was shot by Prosecutor Muhammed Çağatay Kılıçarslan, with whom she had a dispute in her office at the Anadolu Courthouse.
It was learned that the judge, who was taken to the hospital by health teams that arrived at the scene upon notification, was injured in the groin, was not in life-threatening condition, and would undergo surgery.
An investigation was initiated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the incident, and Prosecutor Muhammed Çağatay Kılıçarslan, who was taken into custody, was brought to the Kartal District Police Department Public Order Bureau for processing.
After his processing, the suspect was referred to the courthouse and was arrested for "attempted murder."
In the investigation, it was learned that the suspect prosecutor and the judge had previously worked together in the criminal court at the Anadolu Courthouse.
It was reported that the suspect, who fired at the judge in her office, was prevented by Yakup Karadağ, a prisoner tea server from Maltepe Open Prison, when he attempted to fire again.
Additionally, it was learned that the suspect fired twice at the scene, and one bullet hit the wall and reached the chair of the court president in the adjacent room, while that judge was not in the room at the time.