A lawyer formerly charged in the high-profile murder case of Turkish ultranationalist leader Sinan Ateş has been shot dead in Istanbul, in an apparent drive-by attack. Serdar Ötkem was one of the 22 defendants in the murder trial.
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| Attorney connected to murdered ultranationalist leader killed in drive-by shooting Attorney connected to murdered ultranationalist leader killed in drive-by shooting |
Serdar Öktem was gunned down on Büyükdere Avenue in the Şişli district of Istanbul, outside his office, when assailants opened fire from a vehicle using long guns. Witnesses say at least two people were involved, firing without stepping out of the car. Öktem was taken to a nearby hospital but later died from his injuries. Police sectioned off the area as forensic teams continued their examination late into the night.The killing drew immediate national attention, as Öktem was one of 22 defendants in the ongoing murder trial of Sinan Ateş — a prominent academic and former head of Ülkü Ocakları, also known as the Grey Wolves, a Turkish ultranationalist youth organisation with close ties to the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).
Sinan Ateş’s widow responds
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Ateş’s widow Ayşe Ateş commented on the news, saying: “No matter how low or devoid of humanity they are, ensuring the safety of these bloodstained killers is crucial to shedding light on this political assassination. Because they will all speak — and they will name the real criminals who commissioned this political murder.” Her remarks reflected growing frustration among those who believe the case has been hindered by political pressure and cover-ups.
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A high-profile murder
Öktem had been detained in January 2023 as part of the Ateş investigation and charged with “aiding and abetting premeditated murder.” He was held in custody for nearly 21 months before being released under judicial supervision on 2 October 2024. His case had been separated from the main trial because he refused to unlock his iPhone. Turkish courts later requested assistance from the United States to unlock the device, but officials said a response would likely take more than a year. During his testimony, Öktem claimed he could not remember the passcode due to a Covid-related memory lapse, and even if he did, he said he would not reveal it due to client confidentiality under Turkish law.
Prosecutors alleged that Öktem had acted as a coordinator between the gunmen and organisers in Istanbul and Ankara, linking the groups involved in the Ateş murder. In one set of police communications cited in court, an officer allegedly referred to him, saying, “He’s the one who found the men.”
Öktem had previously served as a legal representative for the Turkish National Police and also represented Doğukan Çep, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for instigating Ateş’s murder.
Ateş, a 38-year-old academic at Hacettepe University and former leader of the Grey Wolves, was gunned down in broad daylight on 30 December 2022 in Ankara’s upscale Çukurambar district. His killing shocked Turkey’s nationalist circles and created friction within the ruling coalition, as Ateş had fallen out with the MHP’s current leadership before his death, though no details are confirmed.
Medyascope'u destekle. Medyascope'a abone ol.
Medyascope’u senin desteğin ayakta tutuyor. Hiçbir patronun, siyasi çıkarın güdümünde değiliz; hangi haberi yapacağımıza biz karar veriyoruz. Tıklanma uğruna değil, kamu yararına çalışıyoruz. Bağımsız gazeteciliğin sürmesi, sitenin açık kalması ve herkesin doğru bilgiye erişebilmesi senin desteğinle mümkün.
In October 2024, the Ankara 32nd High Criminal Court handed down aggravated life sentences — the harshest form of imprisonment in Turkey — to five defendants, including the alleged hitman Eray Özyağcı, and two accused organisers, Doğukan Çep and Tolgahan Demirbaş. Six others received lesser sentences, while five were acquitted.
The case remains one of the most politically charged trials in Turkey in recent years, with opposition figures accusing the judiciary of shielding senior officials and members of the MHP. Only days before his death, a regional appeals court had ruled to merge Öktem’s separate trial with another case involving the illegal acquisition of Ateş’s personal data before the killing, citing overlapping evidence. He was due to stand trial again in February 2025 alongside a former homicide bureau chief.
