Something felt off from the start when 15-year-old Muhammed Kendirci entered the carpentry workshop that morning.
What should have been another routine day of apprenticeship quickly took a dark turn—one that would end in a tragedy that has since shaken an entire community.
Muhammed Kendirci, a teenage apprentice working at a woodworking shop in Bozova, located in Turkey’s Şanlıurfa Province, died after a violent incident at his workplace on November 14.
According to investigative reports, two co-workers allegedly restrained the minor during what was later described by some as a “joke.” The act, however, resulted in severe internal injuries caused by the misuse of industrial equipment.
Kendirci was rushed first to Bozova Mehmet Enver Yıldırım State Hospital before being transferred to Balıklıgöl State Hospital and later admitted to Harran University Research and Application Hospital. Despite intensive medical treatment, he remained in critical condition for five days and died on November 19.
One of the suspects, identified as fellow apprentice Habip Aksoy, was initially released under judicial supervision, a decision that sparked public anger.
As the investigation progressed and the severity of the injuries became clear, a court ordered Aksoy back into custody. Authorities are also investigating the involvement of at least one additional individual.
Turkish Member of Parliament Suat Özçağdaş publicly condemned the incident, stating that labeling the act as a prank was misleading and unacceptable. He described the incident as an act of torture and criticized what he viewed as an insufficient initial response by prosecutors.
Özçağdaş emphasized that Kendirci’s prolonged struggle for life underscored the seriousness of the crime.
Medical experts involved in the case highlighted the extreme danger of misusing high-pressure air equipment. Such tools are intended solely for industrial purposes, and even brief misuse can cause catastrophic internal damage.
Specialists noted that Kendirci’s death days after the incident suggests extensive internal trauma and complications rather than an immediate fatal injury.
At the time of the incident, Kendirci was participating in a vocational apprenticeship program rather than attending school. His status as a minor has intensified scrutiny of workplace safety standards and supervision within such programs. Reports indicating that he was forcibly restrained have further raised questions about consent, oversight, and accountability.
The teenager was laid to rest at Bozova Asri Cemetery, as grief and anger spread through the local community.
The workshop where the incident occurred has not issued a public statement. Meanwhile, prosecutors and law enforcement officials continue to investigate the case, with potential charges ranging from aggravated assault to homicide.
Public reaction has been intense across Şanlıurfa Province and beyond. Many residents and labor advocates argue that the incident exposes serious flaws in child labor protections, workplace supervision, and the enforcement of safety regulations. Critics have also questioned how such an act could occur in a professional setting without immediate intervention.
While some witnesses initially referred to the incident as a prank, lawmakers, legal experts, and human rights advocates have rejected that characterization. The violent misuse of industrial machinery, they argue, cannot be trivialized—especially when it results in the death of a child.
Conclusion
The death of Muhammed Kendirci is more than an isolated workplace incident—it is a devastating reminder of the risks faced by minors in poorly supervised vocational environments. As investigations continue, the case has ignited nationwide calls for stricter oversight of apprenticeship programs, stronger enforcement of workplace safety laws, and meaningful consequences for acts of violence disguised as humor.
This tragedy highlights the urgent need to protect young workers and ensure that learning a trade never comes at the cost of a child’s life.