In a disturbing incident that has shocked Turkey's legal community and sparked renewed calls for enhanced courthouse security, a public prosecutor shot and seriously wounded his ex-wife, a sitting judge, inside the Istanbul Regional Court of Appeals on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. The attack occurred during an ongoing court hearing, highlighting ongoing concerns about domestic violence and safety within judicial institutions.
The victim, identified in reports as Judge Aslı Kahraman, was presiding over a case in the 23rd Criminal Chamber of the court, located in Istanbul's Kartal district on the Asian side of the city. According to multiple Turkish and international media sources, the assailant was Muhammet Çağatay Kılıçaslan (often referred to as M.Ç.K. in initial reports), a prosecutor working at the same courthouse and Kahraman's former husband or ex-partner. He allegedly opened fire on her while she was on the bench, striking her in the leg (with some reports mentioning the abdominal area).
The shooting took place around midday local time (approximately 1:00 p.m., or 1000 GMT). Eyewitness accounts and media descriptions indicate that Kılıçaslan attempted to fire a second shot but was immediately intervened by a day-release prisoner who was serving tea to court staff as part of a rehabilitation or sentence-reduction program. This quick action by the convict prevented further harm and allowed security personnel to subdue and arrest the suspect on the spot.
Judge Kahraman received immediate first aid at the scene before being rushed to a nearby hospital. Early medical reports described her condition as stable, with no life-threatening injuries reported. She is expected to recover following treatment.
Police swiftly secured the entire courthouse building, with images circulating online showing officers surrounding the premises and forensic teams arriving shortly after the incident. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an immediate investigation into the attack, though no official motive has been publicly confirmed at this time. Turkish media, including outlets like Sözcü and DHA, suggested the act stemmed from a prior personal relationship, potentially linked to domestic issues, but authorities have not released details on any previous complaints or restraining orders.
The incident prompted strong condemnation from women's rights organizations. The We Will Stop Femicides Platform, a prominent Turkish advocacy group, issued a statement on X (formerly Twitter), describing the attack as an outrageous act of violence: "A female judge was shot with a firearm by her former husband, a prosecutor, in full view of everyone at the Istanbul Kartal Anatolian Courthouse, the very place where perpetrators should be punished. Women can be shot with firearms even inside courthouses." The group highlighted this as part of broader patterns of violence against women in Turkey, referencing the country's withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention in 2021 — an international treaty aimed at combating gender-based violence — which critics argue has weakened protections.
This shocking event in Istanbul draws stark parallels to a similar courtroom tragedy in Albania just months earlier. On October 6, 2025, Judge Astrit Kalaja was fatally shot inside the Tirana Court of Appeal while presiding over a hearing related to a long-running property dispute. The gunman, a 30-year-old man identified as Elvis Shkëmbi (initials E. Sh.), who was a party to the case, opened fire immediately after the verdict was announced, killing Kalaja and wounding two others — a father and son involved in the dispute. Kalaja, who had served in the judiciary for over three decades and joined the appeals court in 2019, died en route to the hospital despite emergency efforts.
In the aftermath of the Albanian attack, authorities arrested the shooter along with his uncle and a court security guard suspected of facilitating the smuggling of the weapon. Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama called it a "tragic event" requiring reflection on court security, while General Prosecutor Olsian Çela warned that the assault "strikes at the very foundation of justice and the functioning of the legal system." The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) condemned the killing and urged a prompt, independent investigation, emphasizing the need for better protection of judicial personnel amid rising threats in the region.
Both incidents underscore persistent vulnerabilities in courtroom security across parts of Europe and the Balkans, where firearm smuggling, personal vendettas, and inadequate risk assessments continue to pose dangers to judges and court staff. In Turkey, the January 13 shooting has reignited debates over protocols for screening visitors, handling day-release programs, and addressing domestic violence within the judiciary itself.
As investigations continue in Istanbul, Kılıçaslan was detained and expected to appear before authorities later on the day of the attack. The incident serves as a grim reminder of the intersection between personal conflicts and public institutions, prompting calls for systemic reforms to safeguard those who uphold the rule of law.
