Istanbul arson investigation launched after elderly woman's home burned

An 81-year-old woman suffering from dementia, Güner Saraç, was the victim of an arson attack in the Avcılar district of Istanbul during a disputed urban transformation process.

According to family members, building management and a contractor pressured the resident to vacate her ground-floor apartment by June 20, despite no official risk report being finalized and no legal eviction process having commenced. The family, represented by Saraç’s niece Meltem İltaş, stated they were unable to meet the verbal deadline due to various constraints.

When İltaş attempted to prepare the apartment for moving on June 27, she discovered that the electricity panel had been removed and the unit had been looted. Although municipal records indicated the legal eviction period was valid until September 22, the family reported ongoing disturbances. On July 19, the residence was set on fire. A fire department report has identified the cause as arson, and a criminal investigation has been launched by the Küçükçekmece Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.