Isias Hotel Collapse: Turkish Cypriot Families Demand Justice as Trial Continues
The courtroom echoed with the weight of grief and the fervent pursuit of justice as the trial of those responsible for the Isias Hotel collapse continued in Adıyaman, Turkey. Families of the victims, known as the "Champion Angels," filled the space, united in their determination to hold accountable those they believe are responsible for the devastating loss of life during the February 6th earthquakes.
In a carefully considered interim decision, the 3rd Adıyaman High Criminal Court ordered the continued detention of Ahmet Bozkurt, Mehmet Fatih Bozkurt, and Erdem Yıldız. Eight other defendants will face trial without detention, subject to legal oversight.
Prime Minister Ünal Üstel, himself a grieving father, stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the families, his voice filled with raw emotion. “These children are our children, we will never forget the pain of our children. they caused this,” he declared, vowing that the case would set a precedent for preventing similar tragedies.
Ruşen Karakaya, president of the Champion Angels Keep Alive Association, echoed these sentiments. "Isias should be a precedent case and every criminal with possible intent should be tried," he asserted, outlining the families’ unwavering commitment to seeking justice. “We are fighting so that no one loses their life because of immoral buildings,” Karakaya declared.
The court rejected requests for additional expert reports and called for an investigation into the role of public officials in the tragedy.
Legal wrangling over the expert report reveals a crucial point of contention. Hasan Esendağlı, president of the Bar Association, argued that the prosecution’s decision to pursue charges on the grounds of conscious negligence was premature, particularly given the lack of consideration for the experts’ report.
He also noted that the next hearing could be a pivotal moment, potentially leading to a final verdict. “We will see if a decision will be announced on December 25 or if the decision will be postponed until later,” Esendağlı stated.
As families cling to hope for justice and accountability, the December 24th hearing looms large, promising a dramatic culmination of this wrenching saga.
The Isias Hotel collapse has deeply impacted the Turkish Cypriot community, sparking national conversations about building safety and the responsibility of those in power. The ongoing trial serves as a powerful reminder of the human cost of negligence and the enduring quest for justice in the face of unimaginable tragedy.