Mardin murder: Mother claims suspects fled in women's clothing

The mother of Fırat Baraj, a 23-year-old law student at Istanbul 29 Mayıs University, has made new allegations regarding the murder of her son in Mardin's Artuklu district on December 22, 2025.

Nazan Öztap claims that the suspects fled the scene approximately one hour after the incident by wearing women's clothing and veils (charshafs) to hide their identities. She asserts that security camera footage showing the suspects leaving a relative's house in this manner has been added to the case file. Öztap further alleges that the suspects were subsequently smuggled out of the country.

The incident reportedly began as a dispute over an inheritance between Baraj and his cousins. The argument escalated into an armed confrontation on Ravza Street, during which Baraj was critically wounded by gunfire. Despite receiving medical attention at Mardin Training and Research Hospital, he succumbed to his injuries. Authorities are continuing efforts to locate the suspects.