The headless body of a woman found in the Şişli district on the evening of January 24 shocked not only the Turkish public but also Uzbek society. Because the deceased was an Uzbek woman. This incident is not an ordinary crime. It is a heavy story about a woman left alone in a foreign land, a murder committed with betrayal, violence, and cold-bloodedness. Darakchi.uz gathered the details of this murder.
How did the incident actually begin?
Around 7:40 PM on January 24 of this year, a citizen searching for items among garbage in the Şişli district of Istanbul, Turkey, came across a body wrapped in a bedsheet in a waste container. When law enforcement arrived, a horrifying scene became clear: the body belonged to a woman, and her head was missing.
Subsequent investigations conducted with the participation of Uzbekistan's Consulate General in Istanbul confirmed that the deceased was a citizen of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Who is the murderer of the deceased?
During the rapid investigation carried out by Turkish law enforcement agencies, individuals connected to the crime were identified. It is known that the murder was committed by a 31-year-old Uzbek citizen, a construction worker. Another compatriot — a 29-year-old man — assisted him.
After reviewing footage from hundreds of surveillance cameras, it was determined that the suspects attempted to flee to Georgia. However, as a result of a special operation lasting 8 hours, they were apprehended at the airport. Subsequently, another person was also detained as a suspect, bringing the total number of detainees to 3.
Who is guilty?
One of the detained individuals gave a statement during interrogation openly describing the details of the crime: "We met the victim that day. A relationship started between us. Later we got into an argument. I killed her with a knife. Then, together with my friend, we dismembered the body at a house in Umraniye. We put the parts in a suitcase, came to Şişli, and threw them into different containers." During the interrogation process, it was reported that the woman's head and severed legs have not yet been found.
What comment was given on the incident?
Uzbekistan's Consulate General in Istanbul has established contact with the family members of the deceased, and consular-legal assistance is being provided to them. This criminal case has been placed under special monitoring by the consulate. However, this incident does not end with just one criminal case.
Unfortunately, this is not the first case
You may recall that on July 5, 2025, a 35-year-old Uzbek citizen working as a waiter in a restaurant in Turkey's Aydın province sustained a severe head injury as a result of a dispute and died at the scene. In connection with that crime, 5 individuals were detained as suspects.
These tragedies in Istanbul are not a statistic, but the tragic end of a human life. It forces us to think once again: how protected are women working and living alone abroad? How did a path taken with hope for work, trust, and life end in a garbage container? Not only the investigation but society must also seek answers to these questions. Share your thoughts in the comments.
