The Murder of a Teacher in Turkey Sparks Shock as Police Arrest School Principals
On March 2, 2026, the city of Istanbul was shaken by a tragic incident when a student at the Tashdelen Bursa Istanbul Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School in the Çekmeköy district stabbed two teachers and a student, resulting in the death of biology teacher Fatma Nur Çelik and injuries to another teacher, Z.A. (52 years old), and student S.K. (15 years old).
Following the incident, police arrested the student F.S.B. (17 years old), who was in the eleventh grade, and referred him to court, where he is being interrogated to determine his motives behind this horrific act, the reasons for which have not yet been disclosed by the media.
As part of the administrative investigation opened by the authorities, on Saturday, March 7, 2026, both Mustafa Akhan, the National Education Director in the Çekmeköy district, and Fatih Bulat, the school principal, were suspended from their positions, while women's organizations in Turkey continue to monitor the case.
This incident has brought the issue of violence against women back to the forefront, especially since most femicides in Turkey are committed by men, according to data from the "Stop Femicide" platform, which has called on the Turkish government to reactivate the Istanbul Convention to protect women from physical violence, after Turkey withdrew from it years ago despite Western and American criticism.
The case has sparked a wave of shock in public opinion, especially as this is not the first time a teacher has been stabbed to death in Turkey, raising urgent questions for society and authorities about safety in schools and the increasing violence against women.
