Families react to expert report in Gayrettepe fire tragedy: "This is a legal cover-up"

The legal battle continues regarding the fire tragedy that occurred on April 2, 2024, during renovations at the "Masquerade" nightclub in the Gayrettepe neighborhood of Istanbul's Beşiktaş district, which resulted in the deaths of 29 workers. Gathering in front of the Istanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan, the victims' families, lawyers, and supporting non-governmental organizations drew attention to the contradictions in the expert report that could affect the course of the case.

"WE DO NOT ACCEPT THIS REPORT THAT ATTEMPTS TO EXONERATE OVERSIGHT MECHANISMS BY PLACING RESPONSIBILITY SOLELY ON THE OPERATORS"

Reading the press statement, the relatives of those who lost their lives argued that the report prepared by the expert committee ignored the inspection negligence of the municipality and relevant ministries. The statement emphasized that characterizing the massive renovation carried out without a license and safety measures on the ground floor of a 16-story building as a "simple operational error" undermines trust in justice. The families expressed their doubts about the impartiality of the signatures on the report.

THIS EXPERT REPORT IS A LEGAL COVER-UP AIMED AT PROTECTING THE REAL CULPRITS

In the speeches made before the hearing, it was stated that justice cannot be served solely through the few operators currently in custody, and that all public officials with chain negligence in the tragedy must be tried. Saying, "The price of 29 lives cannot be this cheap," the families demanded that the expert report not be accepted by the court in its current form. Stating that they will continue their "Justice Watch" and legal struggle until the real culprits are brought to justice, the families then proceeded to the courtroom.

News Source: 12punto