Antalya Court Sentences Disabled Young Man to 31 Years for Threats

A shocking case in Antalya has drawn nationwide attention after a 24-year-old man with 60% mental disability was sentenced to 31 years and 3 months in prison for allegedly threatening judges and prosecutors and being linked to a hacker group on the Discord platform.

The ruling, delivered by the Antalya 20th Criminal Court of First Instance, raises questions not only about cybersecurity and the massive scale of personal data leaks in Turkey, but also about legal responsibility and mental health in the justice system.

The Case: From Discord Chatrooms to Courtroom Drama

According to the case file, Umut Can Islak, the defendant, joined a Discord group that allegedly included hackers who had stolen the personal data of millions of Turkish citizens. Prosecutors argued that under the group’s direction, Islak made phone calls to threaten several high-level judicial officials.

The charges claim that on March 24–25, 2024, Islak and other group members telephoned a total of nine judges and prosecutors, including three chief prosecutors, issuing threats that alarmed the judiciary.

The following day, March 26, police detained Islak, seizing a range of digital devices and storage units from his home. Investigators stated that these devices contained sensitive personal data belonging to multiple individuals.

“101 Million Citizens’ Data in Hacker Hands”

In his statement to prosecutors, Islak made sensational claims. He said the hacker group in question held the personal data of 101 million people, adding:

“Cumhurbaşkanı ve MİT Başkanı’nın kimlik bilgilerine dahi bu şahıslar tarafından rahatlıkla ulaşılabilmektedir.”

He further alleged that the group had even targeted Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç, though the attempt failed because his phone number had changed. Instead, an unrelated person who owned the minister’s old number was contacted.

Islak also claimed that another group member, identified as S. Ü. Ş., had placed similar prank or threat calls to several retired military generals.

Defense: Disability and Coercion

Throughout the trial, Islak maintained that he personally had not threatened anyone. He admitted joining the Discord group but insisted he was manipulated by others. He claimed his role was exaggerated and that he lacked the capacity to commit the alleged crimes.

His father, Abdurrahman Islak, also spoke out in court, stressing his son’s disability:

“Oğlum kişisel bakımını dahi tek başına yapamıyor. Eğer verilen ceza kesinleşirse, yaşından fazla bir ceza almış olacak.”

The father argued that his son was himself a victim of hackers, whose threats and manipulation pushed him into the situation. He questioned whether his son had the mental and legal competence (ceza ehliyeti) to face such a harsh penalty.

Court’s Decision: 31 Years and 3 Months

After nearly a year of pre-trial detention, Islak was briefly released on March 11, 2025. However, the final ruling came six months later, on September 11, 2025.

The court sentenced Islak to 31 years and 3 months imprisonment on charges of “making threats” and “obtaining personal data unlawfully.”

While defense lawyers sought leniency, citing disability and limited mental capacity, the court upheld the maximum sentences, citing the seriousness of the threats, the scale of data possession, and the high-profile nature of the targets.

Cybersecurity Angle: The Alleged Data Breach

Beyond the individual case, the proceedings shed light on a larger issue: the massive scope of personal data leaks in Turkey.

• Islak’s statement that 101 million personal records were available to the hacker group raises alarms about the security of government databases.

• If accurate, the figure suggests that nearly the entire population’s identity records are at risk.

• The alleged ease with which hackers could access information about top state officials, including the President and intelligence chief, underscores the national security implications of the breach.

Public Debate: Justice vs. Vulnerability

The case has sparked a polarizing debate. On one side, many argue that threatening judges and prosecutors cannot go unpunished, regardless of the perpetrator’s condition. On the other, critics say the ruling highlights systemic failures:

• Mental Disability and Legal Responsibility: Should a defendant with 60% mental disability face such a severe sentence without further psychological evaluation?

• Cybersecurity Weaknesses: If such a hacker group truly exists and controls vast amounts of data, why is a disabled young man the only one facing decades-long imprisonment?

• Judicial Priorities: The sentence, longer than many violent crime rulings, raises questions about proportionality in Turkey’s justice system.

What Comes Next?

The ruling is not final. Islak’s defense team is expected to file an appeal, potentially taking the case to higher courts. Meanwhile, questions about the alleged Discord hacker group remain unanswered:

• Has law enforcement identified or pursued the other members?

• What concrete steps are being taken to secure Turkey’s national data infrastructure?

• Could this case push authorities to tighten cybercrime legislation and strengthen digital protections?

Until these questions are addressed, the case of Umut Can Islak will continue to symbolize both the dangers of cybercrime and the challenges of justice in cases involving vulnerable defendants.