Investigation into deaths of mother and child: Association calls for thorough inquiry

An association monitoring a high-profile sexual abuse case is demanding a comprehensive investigation into the subsequent deaths of the alleged victim's mother and the child herself. The victims, 3-year-old Hifa İkra and her mother Fatma Nur Çelik, were found dead on March 2 on the Zeytinburnu Kazlıçeşme coast.

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As an association, we applied to join the investigation file; however, our request has not yet been decided, and the file has not been opened to us. Therefore, we cannot healthily follow which procedures have been completed and which evidence has been collected within the scope of the investigation.

Their deaths occurred while a trial was underway against Ayhan Şengüler, an executive at the Kuran'a Hizmet Vakfı (Foundation for Service to the Quran), who is accused of sexually abusing Hifa İkra when she was three years old. The Önce Çocuklar ve Kadınlar Derneği (Children and Women First Association), which has been following the abuse case, has requested to join the investigation file but has not yet received a decision.

Association president Müjde Tozbey expressed frustration over the lack of access to the investigation, stating, "As an association, we applied to join the investigation file; however, our request has not yet been decided, and the file has not been opened to us. Therefore, we cannot healthily follow which procedures have been completed and which evidence has been collected within the scope of the investigation."

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We think that all camera records from the Kazlıçeşme coast should be examined, the route and driver of the taxi the deceased took should be determined, the white vehicle seen at the scene and its driver should be identified, HTS and digital records should be examined, the people the deceased met before their deaths should be identified, and a site inspection should be carried out.

Tozbey urged investigators to expand the probe beyond a potential suicide scenario. The association specifically requested the examination of all camera recordings from the Kazlıçeşme coast, identification of the taxi route and driver used by the victims, and the determination of a white vehicle seen at the scene. They also called for the analysis of HTS (call detail records) and digital data, identification of individuals the victims met before their deaths, and a site inspection. Furthermore, they emphasized the need to examine phone and communication records of key individuals, including Ayhan Şengüler, to uncover the material truth.

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The most important thing is that the investigation should not be limited to the possibility of suicide. All possibilities of incitement to suicide, intentional homicide, or complicity in murder must be investigated.

"The most important thing is that the investigation should not be limited to the possibility of suicide. All possibilities of incitement to suicide, intentional homicide, or complicity in murder must be investigated," Tozbey stated, stressing that all connections to the incident must be explored and no possibility should be excluded.

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No possibility should be left out of the investigation.