Turkish prosecutors summon ‘Valley of the Wolves’ writers in renewed probe of 2011 prison death

Turkish prosecutors have reopened the inquiry into the 2011 death of former intelligence officer Kaşif Kozinoğlu, summoning three scriptwriters—Raci Şaşmaz, Bahadır Özdener and Cüneyt Aysan—from the TV series “Valley of the Wolves: Ambush.” The writers are being asked to explain how two episodes, aired in November and December 2011, depicted a fictional ex-intelligence officer, Kazım Kaşifoğlu, who dies in prison after an injection that mimics a heart attack.

Kozinoğlu fell ill after exercising in Silivri Prison and was declared dead, a case that raised suspicion because it occurred just before he was to appear in court on charges linked to the Ergenekon investigation. Prosecutors are examining whether the show’s storyline was informed by privileged information or reflects any knowledge of a third-party involvement. Recent forensic work, including the exhumation of Kozinoğlu’s grave in Ümraniye, will be compared with prison and medical records to determine the true cause of death. The writers are not treated as suspects, but their testimony could shed light on possible misconduct surrounding the high-profile case.