Attacker’s Statement Revealed in Imam Stabbing Case
A man attacked an imam in the Fatih Mosque in Istanbul, claiming that he may have reflected his anger on the imam due to inconsistency between what he read and the information in the mosque sermons. The suspect, identified as Ömer Akşam, recited the takbir and reported that he could not remember what happened after that. In a statement to the prosecutor, he went on to say that he is married, has two children, and is involved in trade. His current monthly income is reported at 500 thousand liras.
The suspect also confessed to having family problems in the past and mentioned experiencing feelings of overwhelming upon learning about his ex-wife’s relationship with his last partner. He declared that he did not have any health problems as far as he knows and confirmed that he is someone who prays five times a day. The suspect stated that he was not guided by any person or organization in the incident, and that it developed as an instant reflex.
Following his statement to the authorities, the suspect was arrested and sent to prison by the Criminal Judgeship of Peace on duty for “attempted murder.”
The suspect’s father was also called to testify after the incident. He disclosed that his son had been married and divorced twice, had been experiencing business-related difficulties and had recently developed an interest in religious matters.
After completing his medical treatment, the suspect was brought back to the authorities, but exercised his right to remain silent. The Minister of Justice condemned the violent attack and wished a speedy recovery for the injured victims. He stated that the ongoing judicial investigation is being conducted from multiple perspectives.
