11.07.2025 11:10
While the Kartalkaya trial was ongoing on its fifth day, grieving families held a press statement in front of the courtroom and expressed their outrage. In a statement made by members of the "We Have No Other Lives" platform, it was stated, "The words of a father who has lost 8 lives and a representative are disregarded and overlooked. Not only that, but they are also trying to physically intervene with law enforcement. They are trying every means to provoke us."
The trial of the Grand Kartal Hotel disaster continues at the Bolu 1st Heavy Penal Court. In the first 4 days of the case, 29 defendants were heard. Last night, while the statement of Hotel Owner Halit Ergül was being taken, chaos erupted in the courtroom. The presiding judge adjourned the trial until the morning. The morning of the 5th day began with a press statement made by members of the "We Have No Other Life" platform. Zeynep Kotan, who made the press statement on behalf of the platform, indicated that they were subjected to pressure.
"WE SAY 'ENOUGH' NOW"
Kotan, who stated that they were subjected to provocations, said, "Enough is enough. As families who have been longing for their loved ones for 170 days, we are now saying 'enough'. For 4 days, we have been subjected to the organized defense of the organized evil that was inflicted on us on January 21. The only things we have heard from the defendants during the questioning for 4 days are 'I don't know, I don't remember, I didn't see, I'm not responsible, and it's on paper'. It doesn't stop there. We are also subjected to provocations from the defendants' lawyers and relatives. They say they are a family that wouldn't even hurt an ant while looking us in the eye. Yesterday, the presiding judge had to warn a defendant's lawyer not to provoke the complainants. This provocation is not only directed at the complainants. The defendants' lawyers systematically intervene in our representatives' questions," she said.
"THEY ARE TRYING EVERY WAY TO PROVOKE"
Kotan expressed that a relative of a defendant is trying every way to provoke the victim families, saying, "The words of a lawyer, whose father lost 8 lives, are disregarded. A relative of a defendant dares to insult the complainants. Not only that, but they also try to physically intervene with the law enforcement officers responsible for ensuring security. This same relative of the defendant has been trying every way to provoke us since day one. Despite our repeated statements in the trial that our only request is respect for our pain, this is what we are subjected to. Our only demand is that all those responsible are held accountable and punished through a fair and transparent judicial process. Let there be such a precedent-setting decision that everyone knows the responsibility of their signature. This precedent-setting decision is important not only for us families but for the secure future of all of Turkey. We are here. Despite the merciless hearts, we stand tall. We will continue this struggle in memory of our loved ones until the end. We trust in the justice of the supreme court," she stated.