Man attempting to board metro without paying in Istanbul injured after fight with guard

ISTANBUL – Doğan News Agency

Aykut Kelek suffered a brain hemorrhage due to the blow, Doğan news agency reported. Cihan photo

A homeless man in Istanbul who jumped over a turnstile attempting to board the metro without paying has been seriously injured after a fight with a security guard Dec. 30. The incident has sparked outrage in social media, boosting calls for free public transportation.

It occurred after the 20-year-old man, identified as Aykut Kelek, together with his younger brother Yasin decided to jump over the turnstiles after their electronic ticket (Akbil) would not work due to insufficient credit at the Taksim Square metro station, one of Istanbul’s most crowded transport nodes.

The security guard witnessed both brothers entering without paying went to prevent them boarding the metro. Following a discussion, which turned into a violent argument, the guard hit the older brother’s head with his detector. 

Kelek, who was immediately transferred to the hospital, suffered a brain hemorrhage, Doğan news agency reported. The guard was detained by the police following the incident. 

The younger brother Yasin Kelek said they were both homeless. “We don’t have a father or a mother. We live in the streets,” he told Doğan news agency.

Student collectives expressed an outcry for the guard’s attitude on social media and announced a demonstration Dec. 31 to call for free public transportation with the hashtag #AkbilBasmaTurnikedenAtla (Don’t use your electronic ticket, jump over the turnstiles).