Ikbal Uzuner Video and Tragic of Adem Çelik with Semih Çelik

In October 2024, Istanbul was shaken by a shocking double murder that left two young women dead and raised deep concerns about mental health, family struggles, and societal responsibility. The perpetrator, 19-year-old Semih Çelik, killed İkbal Uzuner and Ayşenur Halil before ending his own life by jumping from the historic Edirnekapı Walls in Fatih.

Recently, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office announced a decision of non-prosecution (takipsizlik kararı), officially closing the file. The investigation concluded that no third party assisted Çelik and no evidence of satanic influence or organized ideology was found. Yet, the tragedy continues to haunt the families of the victims and Turkish society, sparking questions about youth mental health, family interventions, and the role of social isolation in violent acts.

Contents

Background of the Incident and Video

On October 4, 2024, Çelik committed a sequence of violent acts that stunned Turkey. He first targeted İkbal Uzuner at his home in Eyüpsultan. Shortly after, he murdered Ayşenur Halil near the ancient city walls in Fatih. Moments later, he jumped from the walls, killing himself.

Uncensored photos of the tragic Ikbal Uzuner case

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Uncensored video of the case causing international public outrage

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In the immediate aftermath, speculation swirled. Some reports suggested satanic rituals or ideological radicalization may have influenced him. However, prosecutors later determined there was no concrete evidence of such influences, nor any third party who encouraged or assisted in the crimes.

Statements from Families

Testimony of Semih Çelik’s Father, Adem Çelik

The father, Adem Çelik, offered detailed testimony that helps shed light on his son’s troubled life.

In his early teenage years, Semih was described as a devout and religious boy. Until the age of 16, he performed daily prayers and even urged his father to do the same, once warning him: “Why don’t you pray? You’ll burn in hell.”

But in high school, things began to change. Semih attended Oğuz Canpolat Anadolu Lisesi (mistakenly reported as an imam hatip school in some records). A school counselor had once warned his mother about Semih’s behavior toward another student. At home, his father noticed Semih spending long hours on the computer and quickly shutting it down whenever family members entered his room.

Eventually, Semih quit school, telling his family: “What’s the point of studying, becoming a great man, or even a scientist?” He completed high school through open education but lacked motivation for further studies.

His mental health issues grew more severe. On March 1, 2022, the mother of İkbal Uzuner contacted Semih’s family, warning them that her daughter and Semih were planning a joint suicide. That same evening, Semih attempted suicide at a football field. He was treated at Bakırköy Sadi Konuk Hospital and later transferred to Istanbul University’s Çapa Medical Faculty, where he spent three weeks under psychiatric care. Doctors prescribed medication, but Semih refused to take it.

Although he distanced himself from İkbal after this attempt, Semih’s struggles continued. He tried working as a butcher but eventually quit. According to his father, Semih lived off his gold savings, turned to alcohol occasionally, and admitted to drug use. By late 2023, he claimed to have stopped drugs due to financial difficulties, but his father described him as increasingly nihilistic, repeatedly saying: “Life is empty.”

The family also noticed unsettling artistic expressions. A year before the murders, Adem discovered frightening black-and-white sketches on Semih’s bedroom wall figures resembling demons and grotesque human forms. When questioned, Semih dismissed concerns, saying: “You wouldn’t understand. Our way of thinking is different.”

Testimony of İkbal Uzuner’s Father, Hasan Uzuner

Hasan Uzuner, father of 18-year-old İkbal, recounted his daughter’s troubled history with Semih.

The two had met in high school and were initially friends. But over time, Semih began harassing İkbal, causing her severe psychological distress. Her father transferred her to another school in Fatih to escape him. During this period, she received therapy and, with the support of her family, regained stability. A pet cat played a role in her recovery, providing her comfort and focus.

For a year and a half, İkbal had no contact with Semih. Even Semih’s own mother reassured the Uzuners that he had a new girlfriend and would no longer bother their daughter. They believed the worst was behind them until October 4, 2024.

On the day of the murders, İkbal’s parents tried calling her. Shockingly, a man answered her phone, telling them: “Don’t worry, your daughter is in safe hands.” Later, another man answered, saying the phone had fallen from the city walls and that they could come collect it. Eventually, the parents discovered the unthinkable: their daughter had been murdered.

Psychological and Social Dimensions

The trajectory of Semih Çelik’s life reveals a descent from religious devotion to nihilistic despair. His father described how his son shifted from urging him to pray to declaring repeatedly: “Life is meaningless.”

This drastic change was accompanied by troubling behavior:

Obsession with dark, disturbing drawings.

Prolonged time spent online, often secretive.

Drug and alcohol experimentation.

Social withdrawal and resistance to formal education or career paths.

Mental health experts emphasize that Semih’s untreated psychiatric struggles, coupled with substance abuse and isolation, created a dangerous environment. Despite hospitalization, the refusal to take medication and lack of consistent therapeutic engagement left him vulnerable.

Media Coverage and Public Debate

The Turkish media extensively covered the case, with outlets such as İhlas Haber Ajansı (İHA), Demirören Haber Ajansı (DHA), BBC Turkish, and Ekol TV reporting different dimensions.

Ekol TV released a particularly controversial video allegedly recorded a year before the murders. In it, Semih addresses İkbal, saying: “I wanted to say goodbye to you personally. I am finally dying.” He apologizes for past actions but chillingly admits: “Yesterday, when I saw you, I came to kill you but then I changed my mind.”

Other media published photographs of Semih’s room, showing books, toys, and disturbing sketches, including drawings of dismembered human bodies. These images fueled public debates about his psychological state and the warning signs that may have been overlooked.

The case ignited discussions about:

The role of internet subcultures and nihilistic ideologies.

Whether satanism or dark symbolism played any genuine role.

The failure of psychiatric care to ensure proper follow-up after suicide attempts.

The responsibility of families, schools, and authorities in preventing such tragedies.

The Prosecutor’s Decision

After nearly a year of investigation, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office issued its final ruling. The case was closed on the grounds that:

No third-party involvement was identified.

No evidence of satanic ideology influencing Çelik’s actions was found.

In other words, the murders and suicide were determined to be the isolated actions of Semih Çelik himself.

This conclusion left many relatives frustrated. For the families of İkbal Uzuner and Ayşenur Halil, the ruling brought no sense of closure. Instead, it reinforced the unbearable reality that the crimes were committed solely by a troubled young man who escaped accountability through suicide.

Broader Implications

The Çelik case raises wider questions for Turkish society:

Youth Mental Health Crisis: How can families and institutions better identify and treat young people in distress before tragedies occur?

Education and Isolation: Does the growing disconnect between struggling youth and formal education systems fuel dangerous outcomes?

Media Ethics: Should disturbing videos, drawings, and personal confessions be shared publicly, or do they sensationalize tragedy?

Family Burdens: To what extent are families responsible for recognizing early warning signs, and what support do they need from the state?

The killings of İkbal Uzuner and Ayşenur Halil, followed by the suicide of Semih Çelik, represent one of Istanbul’s most haunting recent tragedies. While prosecutors have officially closed the case, citing no outside involvement, the emotional wounds remain open for the victims’ families.

The story of Semih’s transformation from a devout boy to a nihilistic and violent young man serves as a chilling reminder of the importance of addressing youth mental health, social isolation, and substance abuse before they culminate in irreversible loss.

Ultimately, the case forces society to confront painful questions: Could these deaths have been prevented? Were the warning signs ignored? And how can future tragedies be stopped?

As the families of İkbal and Ayşenur grieve their daughters, the legacy of this case remains a warning about the fragile line between personal despair and collective tragedy.

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