March for Justice: Remembering the Victims of Hotel Collapse
In a poignant display of grief and solidarity, hundreds of individuals took to the streets of northern Nicosia on Friday night, their path illuminated by tiki torches as they sought justice for children who perished in a tragic hotel collapse in Turkey. The march, which commenced at the city’s bus station, was not just a memorial but a call to action, demanding accountability for the 24 Cypriot children and 11 other nationals who lost their lives during last year’s earthquakes.
The protest began in the early hours of Friday morning when fathers of the deceased children embarked on a heart-wrenching journey from Famagusta Turk Maarif Koleji school to Nicosia, converging with fellow protestors as dusk fell. This event marked the second major demonstration, following a previous march in Famagusta where the community, including Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, walked in remembrance to the children’s final resting place.
Demonstrators have been unyielding in their call for justice, insisting that those behind the construction of the Isias hotel in Adiyaman—where the children were staying—be held criminally accountable for the catastrophe that claimed 72 lives on February 6 of the previous year.
Rusen Yucesoylu Karakaya, a grieving parent leading the association of bereaved families, delivered a stirring speech outside the Turkish Embassy. “Our only cause is the truth shown by science and the rule of law,” she declared, emphasizing the community’s determination to see justice served.
The upcoming trial on April 26 in Adiyaman is a focal point for these families. Eleven individuals implicated in the hotel’s collapse will face charges of “causing death by conscious negligence”. The families and political leaders alike are advocating for more severe charges, reflective of intentional killing.
Despite some defendants being released on bail, the community’s resolve remains unshaken. Karakaya’s words resonate with a promise to pursue those responsible relentlessly until justice is achieved. As protestors marched towards the Turkish Embassy, their message was clear: the memory of those lost will not fade, and neither will their pursuit of accountability and justice.
