Istanbul Shootout Leaves One Twin Dead, Another Arrested; Mother Seeks Justice

A fatal shootout in Istanbul's Ümraniye district has left one teenager dead and his twin brother injured and subsequently arrested. Arda Berk Aktaş, 17, died after being shot in the head, while his twin, Yasin Aktaş, sustained four gunshot wounds to the leg and was arrested.

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When I went to the hospital, I learned that Arda Berk was shot in the head and Yasin was wounded with four bullets in the leg. The world ended for me there. Arda fought for life for three days but could not be saved.

The mother of the deceased, Tuğba Aktaş, described the harrowing experience of receiving a hospital call on June 14, the same day her daughter had a high school graduation ceremony. "When I went to the hospital, I learned that Arda Berk was shot in the head and Yasin was wounded with four bullets in the leg. The world ended for me there. Arda fought for life for three days but could not be saved," she recounted.

Adding to the family's tragedy, Yasin was arrested on the same day his brother died. His mother expressed her anguish, stating, "My child's sibling Yasin was arrested on the day my child passed away. They said it was for security reasons." She highlighted his deteriorating health in prison due to an infection, lamenting, "I am now going back and forth between the cemetery and the prison."

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My child's sibling Yasin was arrested on the day my child passed away. They said it was for security reasons. I am now going back and forth between the cemetery and the prison.

Aktaş vehemently denied public claims that the incident stemmed from a debt dispute, suggesting her sons were manipulated into being at the scene. "My children were going to come to me. They had messaged me on WhatsApp, 'Mom, we're coming in 15-20 minutes.' We were going to go to a graduation party. I received my child's funeral that evening," she said, alleging Arda had been threatened by someone with an international number before being drawn to the location.

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During the shooting, no one helped. He dragged his brother on his back while injured. As he closed his eyes, his brother asked for forgiveness and Yasin kissed Arda.

Yasin Aktaş's lawyer, Ahmet Emin Altınışık, contested the arrest, arguing there was no concrete evidence of his client's active involvement. He pointed to surveillance footage showing individuals at the front of a vehicle carrying out the act, stating, "My client and the deceased had no involvement in the incident." The lawyer criticized the continued detention, citing the need to await swap test results, and argued it was disproportionate given Yasin's age and health condition.

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My client and the deceased had no involvement in the incident. Despite this, the continuation of detention, citing the need to await swap test results, is contrary to the principle of proportionality considering the child's age and health status.