Individual who kicked a cat in a mosque is in custody, animal lovers are searching for the cat

In the incident that occurred during the night prayer (yatsı) at the Adalar Mosque on August 25, 2026, a cat wandering in front of the congregation attempted to move between the feet of one of the citizens praying. Security camera footage captured the individual kicking the cat during the prayer, causing the cat to fly into the air, hit the imam's head, and fall to the ground. The incident drew widespread outrage shortly after the footage was shared on social media.

The Erzurum Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an ex officio investigation under the Animal Protection Law, and as a result of the work carried out, the suspect was identified and taken into custody. The Prosecutor's Office stated that the investigation is being conducted meticulously and from multiple angles. After the incident became a trending topic on social media, animal lovers searched the garden and surroundings of the Adalar Mosque to learn about the cat's condition and to find it.

"A truly sad incident"

Animal lover Günay Şengüllendi, who came to the Adalar Mosque to search for the cat after the incident, said, "I was very saddened when I saw this news on social media. As an animal lover, it really saddened me that my city is being associated with such news. Our religion is one that commands mercy for all living beings on earth and in the sky. While our Prophet was a prophet who cut his robe rather than wake his cat when it slept on it, such cruel behavior by people toward animals truly saddens us all. I wish mercy for all people, and I pray to God to grant love and mercy to their hearts.

We came when we saw the news, thinking we should look for the cat and see how it is doing. However, we learned that this incident took place on the 25th. We looked around and asked, but we could not find the cat for now; we will continue to search. Mosques are places that bring people closer to God.

Prayer is an act of worship that provides communication between God and the servant. It is truly very sad for someone who comes to the mosque to pray to kick a living creature, a creature created by God, that comes in front of them while they are praying. I mean, a human being cannot do this, and a person who has turned toward God can never do it. It is a truly sad incident," she said.