Attacked Atatürk Monument with an Axe: Claimed ‘I am the Messiah’

The incident occurred on June 16, the first day of Eid al-Adha, at around 11:30 a.m. in Kayseri Republic Square, Kocasinan district. Yaşar Kılıçkaya and Zeynep Abdullah began striking the Atatürk Monument with an axe.

Municipal security officers, who were on duty in the square, intervened with the two suspects. Numerous police units were then dispatched to the scene. The suspects, identified as uncle and niece, were detained. An examination revealed 13 axe strikes on the monument. Following their processing at the police station, Kılıçkaya and Abdullah were taken to court, where they were charged and subsequently jailed.

STATEMENTS REVEALED

The statements of Yaşar Kılıçkaya and his niece Abdullah have surfaced. Kılıçkaya claimed he saw the Prophet Abraham in his dream and believed himself to be the Messiah.

Zeynep Abdullah stated that she regarded her uncle Kılıçkaya as the Messiah. Both Kılıçkaya and Abdullah reportedly said in their statements, "Just as the Prophet Abraham destroyed idols, we wanted to do the same. We are not remorseful."