The fifth hearing in the İsias Hotel trial, where justice is being sought for the “Champion Angels” who lost their lives, will take place on Tuesday, December 3, at the Adıyaman 3rd High Criminal Court.
Families of the victims will once again travel to Adıyaman, the site of the tragic incident, to continue their fight for accountability.
This hearing is particularly significant as it marks the first session following the release of a key expert report prepared by Dokuz Eylül University and Istanbul Technical University, unveiled on October 28 which revealed that the building’s collapse “was not caused by the earthquake, but by construction and design errors.
“If the building had been built in accordance with earthquake-related building regulations passed into law in 1998, it would not have collapsed,” it said.
The report also found the building had collapsed in a different direction to that which had been claimed by the 11 defendants, and that this had happened “due to manufacturing errors and structural deficiencies”.
In addition, it found the “illegal floor” built on top of the hotel also had an impact on the building’s collapse.
The families of the Champion Angels, alongside relatives of the tour guides and ten injured survivors, will attend the trial, which begins at 10:00 a.m. on December 3.
They will be joined by a 100-member delegation, including Prime Minister Ünal Üstel, several ministers, parliamentarians, political figures, and members of the temporary special committee overseeing legal and judicial processes related to the earthquake. Representatives from the Cyprus Turkish Bar Association, journalists, and other observers will also be present.
Ruşen Yücesoylu Karakaya, Chairperson of the Champion Angels Memorial Association, described the expert report as a strong foundation for their pursuit of justice.
Speaking to TAK, she stated, “We are returning to Adıyaman to once again demand accountability for the lives lost.”
Hasan Esendağlı, President of the Cyprus Turkish Bar Association, emphasized the critical importance of the upcoming session. He expressed hope that the court’s proceedings would closely align with the findings of the expert report, describing the hearing as a turning point in the fight for justice.