Public Outrage After Lenient Sentence for the Murderers of a Child in Istanbul

The Second Criminal Court in Anadolu, Istanbul, sparked widespread anger after sentencing the murderers of 14-year-old Mattia Ahmed Mingozzi, the son of an Italian chef residing in Turkey, in a crime that shocked Turkish public opinion.

The court sentenced two teenagers to 24 years in prison each, while acquitting two others who were with the perpetrators at the time of the incident and ordered their release. The incident occurred on January 24, when the victim was stabbed and beaten while with his friends at the market buying skiing equipment, and he died 14 days after receiving treatment in the hospital.

The victim's mother, a cellist, broke down during the session and expressed her loss of faith in justice, while the father described the release of two of the defendants as "wrong and humiliating," affirming his determination to continue the fight for the protection of children.

The ruling sparked a wave of criticism on social media, as politicians and citizens considered it too lenient, especially with the possibility of the convicted being released after serving 15 years of their sentence.

Oktay Saral, chief advisor to the ruling Justice and Development Party, stated that justice does not only mean closing cases, but also deterrence, protection, and accountability, calling for a review of laws and stricter penalties. Meanwhile, Sıwat Özçagdaş, an assistant to the chairman of the Republican People's Party, described the decision as needing a clear explanation from the court.

Since the crime occurred, President Erdoğan and the opposition leader have met with the victim's family, and the victim's mother attended parliament during a national campaign to tighten penalties for teenagers involved in crimes.