03.06.2026 22:00
The trial of Kudret Arslan, who stabbed to death his daughter-in-law Başak Gürkan Arslan, who was in the process of divorcing his son, and Barış Arslan, her husband who was also in the process of divorcing, has begun on charges of "intentional killing with monstrous intent or by causing torture." Describing the moment of the incident, Barış Arslan said, "I saw the knife in my father's hand. I tried to get Başak out. Then my father came and sat on Başak, starting to stab her. I had never even seen my father cut a chicken before. I was in shock."
The trial has begun for Kudret Arslan (63), who stabbed to death his daughter-in-law Başak Gürkan Arslan (46), who was in the process of divorcing his son, and for Barış Arslan (45), who was also in the divorce process, on charges of 'premeditated murder with monstrous intent or torture'.
At the hearing in Ankara 12th Heavy Penal Court, the detained defendants Barış Arslan (45) and Kudret Arslan (63), along with relatives of the deceased Başak Gürkan Arslan (46) and party lawyers, were present. After identity verification and the reading of the indictment summary, the court president announced that the defendants' defenses would be heard.
"WE DECIDED TO DIVORCE BY MUTUAL AGREEMENT WITH MY WIFE"
Taking the floor to defend himself, the detained defendant Arslan stated that there was a coldness between him and his wife, saying: "My wife would sometimes watch videos about love spells and such. I also learned that the camera recordings in our home were turned off for a short time and that T. had come that day. After that, we mutually agreed to divorce. My father and I are like friends. I share everything with my father. About a week before the incident, my father came to support me during this process. After my father arrived, I decided to make changes to the agreement I had made with Başak.
My lawyer sent this agreement via WhatsApp. My father and I printed it out. With this newly arranged agreement, we first went to Başak's parents' house. Our aim was to inform the family beforehand. We didn't enter with our shoes on, and we didn't act aggressively. My father did not threaten by saying 'I'll cut you, I'll kill you.' I didn't hear it. Since Celal and Makbule refused to come with us, we took the agreement and went to Başak's house. The reason my father came with me was to support me and to see his grandchild. As soon as Başak saw us, she started cursing.
"I SAW MY FATHER LIKE THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME"
I saw my father punch the deceased and she fell inside. I said 'what are you doing' to my father. My father headed towards the kitchen. Then I saw the knife in my father's hand. I tried to get Başak out. Then my father came and sat on top of Başak and started stabbing her. I had never even seen my father cut a chicken before. I was in shock. I saw my father like that for the first time. I couldn't intervene with my father due to the shock of the event. I was afraid my father might do something to me too."
The defendant father, Kudret Arslan, claimed in his defense that he loved Başak Gürkan Arslan like his own daughter and that there was no problem between them. Arslan, asserting that they had no issues with the victim's family either, alleged that his son Barış Arslan had told him some time ago that he suspected his wife was cheating on him.
"I WISH MY SON HAD HELD ME BACK"
Arslan continued his defense as follows: "On the day of the incident, Başak's mother and father both refused our request to go together for the agreement. They even said 'we are angry with her.' Then we went to Başak's house. Her cursing at me, since I saw her as a daughter, hurt me. Then I lost control. I didn't hear anything, I don't remember anything else. During the incident, I wish my son had held me back. I don't remember if I would have done something to my son too. I am very sorry. I also apologize profusely to her family for doing this."
"MY DAUGHTER WAS NOT WITH SOMEONE ELSE"
Başak's mother, Makbule Gürkan, stated that her daughter experienced violence in her marriage, saying: "After my grandchild was born, their marriage did not go well. My daughter came to me and told me her husband was violent. Shortly before the incident, she came to me with her wrist bandaged. He was a man who even consulted his father about his bed. He consulted his father about everything. He would regret buying his child a chocolate. He was a stingy person. He would calculate the cost of the food he ate at the table. I told my daughter to leave. Başak said, 'Mom, we will separate civilly, don't interfere.' My daughter was not with someone else. This is slander," she said.
After the statements, the court announced its interim decision, ruling to maintain the current detention status of the defendants and adjourned the next hearing to September 22.
WHAT HAPPENED?
According to the indictment prepared by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the incident occurred on September 9, 2025, in the Kardelen neighborhood of Yenimahalle district. Başak Gürkan Arslan and Barış Arslan, who had been living separately for a while and were in the process of divorce, gathered at home to discuss the divorce agreement. A dispute broke out between the parties when Barış Arslan's father, Kudret Arslan, arrived at the home, where the couple's 5-year-old child was also present. It was stated that as the argument quickly escalated into a fight, Kudret Arslan punched Başak Gürkan Arslan, causing her to fall to the ground, while Barış Arslan tried to drag his wife out of the house by her hair. The indictment noted that Kudret Arslan then sat on top of Başak Gürkan Arslan and stabbed her multiple times with a knife, resulting in the young woman's death at the scene.
The Forensic Medicine Institute report indicated that there were 22 sharp-force injuries on Başak Gürkan Arslan's body, three of which were individually fatal. It was stated that the cause of death was external bleeding due to major vessel injury and internal bleeding due to internal organ injuries.
In the indictment, where it was assessed that the suspects acted in unity of thought and action, it was noted that Kudret Arslan committed the crime of 'premeditated murder with monstrous intent or torture' and that Barış Arslan participated in the act. The indictment demanded that Kudret Arslan and Barış Arslan be sentenced separately to aggravated life imprisonment for the crime of 'premeditated murder with monstrous intent or torture'.