Minibus driver who warned people swearing at the stop attacked with a broken tea glass: Lost his vision

In the incident that took place on February 17, 2024, at a minibus stop in the Yeşiloba neighborhood of Adana's central Seyhan district, driver Serkan Tecirli (46) was disturbed by the profanity used by the tea server M.A. while he was returning to the stop after his shift and warned him. A dispute broke out between the parties following the warning. It is alleged that M.Y. (45), one of the cooperative managers, attacked Tecirli with kicks and punches. The fight was ended when other drivers intervened.

STRUCK HIM IN THE EYE WITH A TEA GLASS

A short while later, Tecirli went to M.Y., who was drinking tea, to talk. At that moment, M.Y. first struck Tecirli on the head with the tea glass in his hand, and then injured his left eye with the broken glass. Tecirli, dazed by the blow, was taken to Adana City Training and Research Hospital. The moments of the incident were captured second by second on the stop's security camera. Tecirli filed a complaint against M.Y.

In his statement, M.Y. said, "When he came at me and attacked me, I hit him with the glass in my hand. During the scuffle, the glass hit his face. I didn't know the glass was broken, I didn't do it intentionally." M.Y., who was referred to the courthouse, was released pending trial.

Despite the interventions and treatments, Tecirli suffered permanent vision loss in his left eye.

LAWSUIT FILED

In the second hearing of the case held at the Adana 17th Criminal Court of First Instance on October 2, 2025, the defendant M.Y. claimed that Tecirli had sworn at him and attacked him. While two of the witnesses stated that Tecirli did not use profanity, the tea server M.A. said that Tecirli had sworn at M.Y. and attacked him. The prosecution requested that the defendant be punished under the articles of 'Intentional injury', 'Injury aggravated by its consequences', and 'Loss of function of one of the senses or organs'. The hearing was adjourned to March 10, 2026.

"I WARNED THEM, AND I LOST MY EYE"

Describing what he went through, Serkan Tecirli said, "First he hit my forehead with the tea glass, then he hit my eye and left me blind. This person hid for 5 months and didn't even give a statement. At the end of the 5th month, he went with his lawyer, gave a statement, and was released. The footage is clear. Even if children on the street swear at each other, I warn them to speak nicely, but I warned them, and I lost my eye."

Stating that he cannot work right now and wants the attacker to be punished, Tecirli said, "He left me blind and didn't get punished. Anger is building up inside me. I am currently imprisoned in my home, I cannot go out. My economic freedom is completely gone, it is impossible for me to work as a driver, they have restricted me."

His mother, Keziban Tecirli, also demanded that the attacker who caused her son to lose his vision be arrested and receive the punishment he deserves.

News Source: İHA