Istanbul court sentences 14-year-old for Atlas Çağlayan murder

The Bakırköy 2nd Juvenile Heavy Penal Court has sentenced 14-year-old Efe Ç. to 18 years, 10 months, and 15 days in prison for the murder of 17-year-old Atlas Çağlayan. The killing occurred on January 14, 2026, in the Güngören district of Istanbul following a dispute between two groups at a cafe.

The court's sentence includes charges for “intentional murder against a child,” “threat with a weapon,” and violations of Law No. 6136. While the prosecutor had requested a sentence of up to 21 years and 7 months, the final ruling included reductions. The defendant remains in custody.

Atlas Çağlayan’s mother, Gülhan Ünlü, expressed profound grief and frustration following the verdict. She criticized the sentence reductions and the legal classification of the perpetrator as a “child,” arguing that the actual time served would be significantly less than the sentence suggests. She called for changes to the Execution Law to prevent a “perception of impunity” and urged authorities to investigate other potential accomplices involved in the incident.