Resumption of Trial for Isias Hotel Collapse
In a solemn procession, the families of the 24 Cypriot children who perished in the hotel collapse in Adiyaman, Turkey, arrived on Thursday to attend the continuation of the trial concerning the tragic event. The trial, set to resume on Friday, has gripped the hearts of not only those directly affected but also the wider Turkish Cypriot community.
The Isias hotel, which crumbled during the devastating earthquakes on February 6 last year, claimed the lives of the children and 11 Cypriot adults who were in town for a volleyball tournament. The families were joined by prominent figures from the Turkish Cypriot leadership, signaling the high level of attention and significance this case holds within the community.
Murat Aktugrali, a grieving father whose son was among those lost in the building collapse, shared with Anka news agency his expectations for justice. The families demand that those previously released from custody be re-remanded, a new technical report be commissioned to address shortcomings of a previous one deemed inadequate, and an expansion of the investigation to include state officials mentioned in last November’s indictment.
As the community still mourns, Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar expressed his solidarity by visiting the school where the children were enrolled and holding discussions with Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc. The commitment to justice was echoed in a recent march in northern Nicosia where hundreds demanded accountability.
With 11 individuals facing charges related to the hotel’s collapse, including the owner and his sons, the trial’s outcome is eagerly awaited. The charges of “causing death by conscious negligence” carry a heavy sentence, but there is a collective call for these to be elevated to reflect intentional harm. As proceedings continue, a community united in grief looks to the judiciary for closure and justice.
