A 15-year-old apprentice named Muhammed Kendirci has died after an apparently cruel incident in which a high-pressure air hose was forced into his rectum at a workshop in south-eastern Turkey. The incident took place on November 14 at a woodworking centre in the district of Bozova in Şanlıurfa Province, according to Turkish outlets.
Kendirci, who was working as an apprentice in the carpentry workshop, sustained severe internal injuries when two of his co-workers allegedly restrained him, tied his hands, removed his trousers and inserted a high-pressure compressor hose into his anus. The act reportedly caused catastrophic internal damage.
Following the assault, he was rushed to Bozova Mehmet Enver Yıldırım State Hospital, then transferred to Balıklıgöl State Hospital and later to the intensive care unit of Harran University Research and Application Hospital where he remained for five days before succumbing to his injuries on the morning of November 19.
One of the alleged perpetrators has been identified as Habip Aksoy, also an apprentice in the workshop. Aksoy was reportedly released on probation initially, but a court later remanded him into custody again as the investigation progressed. An unnamed friend is also alleged to have participated.
Turkish Member of Parliament Suat Özçağdaş publicly condemned the incident. Writing on X (formerly Twitter), he said Kendirci was “tortured while working as an apprentice in a carpentry workshop” and that the prosecutor’s office had initially treated the incident as a “joke, not torture”. He added: “Having struggled to hold on to life for five days, Muhammed tragically passed away today.”
Authorities are conducting a criminal investigation. It remains unclear what exact charges have been filed, though the severity of the internal injuries and the alleged actions suggest potential violations of Turkish criminal law relating to assault and possibly homicide.
The case has drawn attention not only for the brutality of the act but because it echoes other fatal incidents worldwide in which high-pressure air hoses have been forcefully inserted into the human body, causing explosive internal injuries. While such incidents are rare, they underscore the dangers of industrial equipment when misused.
At the time of the incident Kendirci was still a minor, aged 15, and reportedly working at the workshop as part of his apprenticeship rather than being at school. MP Özçağdaş’s comment suggested that the teenage victim should have been in education rather than subjected to such conditions.
Local reports indicate that the victim had been tied up by his hands before the hose was inserted, indicating the act was non-consensual and involved restraint. The forced removal of clothing and insertion of the compressor nozzle are documented by multiple outlets.
The nature of injuries from high pressure air entering the body is such that air under high pressure can rapidly travel into the internal cavity, cause rupture of intestines, and lead to massive internal bleeding or embolism. Medical commentary in similar previous cases highlights the near-instant catastrophic effect of such misuse of equipment.
The dead teenager’s funeral was held at the Bozova Asri Cemetery, according to local media.
The employer or workshop where the incident took place has not been named publicly at this stage, nor has there been an official statement from the company. It is reported simply as a “carpentry workshop in Bozova.” The local branch of law enforcement and the public prosecutor’s office are handling the investigation.
The incident raises multiple issues: the presence of a minor working in a potentially hazardous environment, the use of industrial equipment in a non-work-related and violent context, the question of workplace supervision and safety, and the adequacy of legal and regulatory protections for young apprentices. Although such probes may take time, stakeholders within Turkey and observers internationally may view this as a test case for enforcement of labour protections for minors.
While the exact motive behind the “prank” remains unclear, survivors and witnesses reportedly described the event as a joke gone wrong. However, comments by the law-maker and some media suggest the act may best be described as torture rather than a benign prank. The difference could affect the nature of criminal charges.
In the wake of the death, shock and outrage have mounted locally. The regional community of Bozova and the broader Şanlıurfa Province face scrutiny. The apprenticeship system in Turkey allows minors to work under supervision, but critics argue this case reveals gaps in oversight, particularly in trades that involve machinery and tools with high risk.
Kendirci was undergoing training in the workshop when the incident occurred. It remains unclear how many hours he had been in the role, what safety briefings or protections were in place, and whether his employer followed standard procedures for apprentices. Turkish law allows for vocational training of minors, but employers are obliged to ensure safe working conditions and prevent exploitation.
The involvement of the high-pressure air compressor — a piece of equipment designed to deliver compressed air for heavy duty tasks — suggests the misuse of industrial apparatus for a non-industrial act. While compressors may be used in workshops for sanding, cleaning or powering tools, they are not intended for human use, particularly in such a violent manner. Experts say even short blasts of compressed air into the body cavity can cause immediate death by internal organ damage and air embolism.
No official medical report has been publicly released detailing the exact nature of the internal injuries beyond “severe” or “catastrophic” internal organ damage. Media outlets mention that Kendirci was in intensive care for five days before dying. The delay in death suggests sustained trauma leading to complications rather than immediate collapse.
It is too early to determine whether broader regulatory charges will follow against the workplace or how Turkish labour authorities will respond. Given the fact that the perpetrator was initially released on probation, questions have been raised about whether the seriousness of the incident was undervalued at first. The MP’s comment that the prosecutor’s office had initially treated it as a “joke” underscores those concerns.
The death of Muhammed Kendirci is a tragic and shocking event arising out of a violent act in a place of work. The incident highlights severe failures in supervision, safety, and perhaps legal oversight of minors in hazardous apprenticeship settings. The ongoing investigation will determine the criminal and regulatory consequences, but the loss of a young life under such brutal circumstances has already triggered public outrage and demands for accountability.