30.10.2026 17:22
In the case in Beşiktaş Gayrettepe concerning the nightclub fire in which 29 people lost their lives, in which 22 defendants, 4 of them detained, are being tried, the expert report has been entered into the court file. In the report, it was assessed that all 13 public officials responsible for licensing and inspection failed to exercise the necessary care and supervision within their own areas of duty, and it was stated that if the necessary inspections had been carried out, the incident resulting in death could have been preventable.
The trial of the case concerning the nightclub fire that broke out during renovations in Beşiktaş Gayrettepe on April 2, 2024, and claimed the lives of 29 people, in which 22 defendants, 4 of them detained, are being tried, continued. Detained defendants, non-detained defendants, parties' lawyers, and complainants attended the hearing held at the Istanbul 33rd High Criminal Court. The presiding judge stated that they had newly taken office, that the expert report had reached the file, and that as a panel they wanted to conclude the file as quickly as possible. The defendants each requested release.
"NO NEW FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS OBTAINED"
In the expert report dated October 29, it was assessed that all 13 public officials responsible for licensing and inspection failed to exercise the necessary care and supervision within their areas of duty. The report stated that if the necessary inspections had been carried out, the incident resulting in death could have been preventable.
The expert panel appointed by the Istanbul 33rd High Criminal Court conducted an examination to resolve the contradictions between previous reports in the file. The report noted that there were contradictions regarding the area of use in the workplace's licensing procedures over the years, that no new fire department report was obtained despite changes in activity, and that complaints made were not adequately evaluated.
In the report, which stated that the fire originated from welding work during unauthorized renovations, it was expressed that there were activities at the workplace contrary to occupational safety legislation. The panel assessed that the consequences of the fire could have resulted not only from the cause of the outbreak but also from the failure to carry out inspections aimed at preventing loss of life.
"SERIOUS NEGLIGENCE" INTERPRETATION FOR SOME PUBLIC OFFICIALS
The report stated that the negligence of former Beşiktaş Deputy Mayor Ahmet Mithat Şermet and Licensing and Inspection Director Uğur Türkyılmaz arising from their inspection duties was aggravated by the failure to establish a mechanism for identifying and following up on the complaint in the file.
It was assessed that licensing officer Rahşan Tekin Ölmez had clear negligence in the preparation of the license dated July 5, 2007, because she had the opportunity to notice the contradictions in the file. The report noted that licensing chief Nilüfer Oğuz and former Beşiktaş Deputy Mayors Ahmet Koray Bayraktaroğlu and Ahmet Mithat Şermet also had negligence within the scope of their inspection duties.
In particular, the failure to follow up on complaints made in 2010, the failure to request a new fire department report in 2018, and the failure to conduct an inspection despite the change in activity in 2020 were among the important findings in the report. While the expert panel emphasized that the assessments regarding public officials did not eliminate the responsibility of the operators, it stated that the final legal assessment belonged to the court.
"I WANT MY SON'S RIGHTS IN THE HARSHEST WAY"
Complainant Emine Kaya Baş, who took the floor at the hearing, criticized the attempt to finish the case without conducting an on-site inspection. Kaya Baş said, "You cannot finish this case on the basis of conscious negligence. In a place where 29 people died in 5 minutes, you cannot finish this court two months later." After her speech, Kayabaş felt unwell and left the courtroom crying.
Complainant Gülşen Aladağ also asked the court panel to visit the scene and said, "I sent my 18-year-old child there. What I ask of you is to give the harshest punishment."
Aladağ, who said the pain she experienced had not subsided, said, "If I, as a mother, am looking for justice in these places, there is no justice. I was an unbroken woman; they broke me. I want my son's rights in the harshest way. 29 people lost their lives, they fled, my son lost his life there." After her speech, Aladağ cried, felt unwell, and left the courtroom.
Complainant Zülfiye Dolu said, "This case has shown a lack of trust in justice since the first day. The lawyer of one of the defendants, Şehzade, appeared and said through Ahmet, the deceased welder, 'He is the only one to blame.' There is no fire door, no switch, no sign. Because the expert reports arrived at the last minute, I filed a complaint with CİMER last night. I think the reason the courts are taking so long is money. What relationship does Şehzade Şekergümüş have with the municipality? I want him to be questioned. We want you to bring this case into order."
At the hearing, the defendants' lawyers requested time from the court panel to examine the expert report and present their assessments. The court panel decided to continue the detention of the detained defendants and adjourned the hearing to December 2.