Local Website Owner Shot in Aydın, Party Official Detained in Related Incident

In Aydın Province, Türkiye, a confrontation between local figures escalated into violence on January 9, 2026, when Durmuş Tuna, the owner of a local internet news site, was shot in the leg during a dispute with Hüseyin Kaya, who serves as the provincial chairman of the New Welfare Party (Yeniden Refah Partisi). The altercation reportedly took place in the Söke district’s Konak neighborhood, where the two men argued over undisclosed issues before Kaya fired his weapon, injuring Tuna. Local authorities responded swiftly, with emergency services transporting the wounded website owner to Söke Fehime Faik Kocagöz State Hospital, where his condition was later described as good. Police detained Kaya at the scene and launched an investigation into the shooting.

The shooting of a media site owner by a political party official has drawn attention to tensions between local media figures and political actors at the municipal level, though details about the underlying disagreement remain limited. Tuna’s work as a local news provider underscores the role of smaller, independent outlets in reporting community affairs and political developments — an essential component of press pluralism at the local level.

Following the incident, law enforcement authorities detained Kaya for questioning and possible charges related to the assault and use of a firearm during the dispute. The investigation is ongoing, and prosecutors will likely determine whether additional charges beyond unlawful injury and weapons violations should be pursued as the case develops.

This event stands out as a rare instance of physical violence involving a media proprietor and a local political leader, and it may prompt broader discussion in Turkish civic and journalistic circles about the safety of news practitioners and the responsibilities of political figures in community conflicts. Analysts and press advocates may monitor how local authorities handle the prosecution, both to ensure accountability and to reassure media professionals operating outside major urban centers.

As the case unfolds, further statements from local police, prosecutors, and political party leadership are expected to clarify the circumstances of the dispute and any potential legal outcomes for the individuals involved.