6 defendants released in Istiklal Avenue bombing trial

A terrorist bombing occurred on Beyoğlu Istiklal Avenue on Sunday, November 13, 2022, resulting in the deaths of 6 people and injuries to 99 others. The trial regarding the incident continued. At the hearing held at the Istanbul 13th High Criminal Court, 12 detained defendants, including Ahlam Albashir, and the lawyers for the parties were present. Some detained defendants connected to the hearing via the Audio and Video Information System (SEGBİS).

''I DID NOT COME TO CAUSE TROUBLE FOR TURKEY, I CAME TO DO BUSINESS, TO WORK''

In his defense at the hearing, detained defendant Ferhat Habeş stated, ''First of all, may God have mercy on those who died, may their place be heaven. I came to Turkey by fleeing the PKK. I got married here, and after I got married, I brought my family here too. I did not see anything; I did not come to cause trouble for Turkey, I came to do business, to work. Hasan called me and said they are our relatives, our neighbors, let them stay with you for 3 days. He said they will go to Europe after 3 days, nothing will happen. They stayed with me for 15-20 days. Then they started looking for a house; Bilal and Ahlam stayed both at the workshop and at the house for a total of about 2 and a half months. I don't know who they talked to during this time, they didn't talk to anyone in my presence. I don't even know what my crime is,'' he said.

In her defense at the hearing, detained defendant Ahlam Albashir said, ''I want to speak with my sister,'' and added nothing else to her defense. The other defendants requested their release from the court.

6 DEFENDANTS RELEASED

Announcing its interim decision, the court ordered the release of defendants Mahmud Haso, Hadice Alkurdia, Salih Carkes, Hadir Carkes, Yasir Al Korali, and the child driven to crime A.E., citing the time they have spent in detention. It was decided that the detention of 18 defendants, including Ahlam Albashir, would continue.
The file was sent to the Prosecutor's Office for the final opinion.

The court panel also ruled that the file be sent to the Public Prosecutor for the preparation of the final opinion and adjourned the hearing.

FROM THE INDICTMENT

In the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was requested that Albashir be sentenced to a total of 7 aggravated life sentences and 1,949 years and 6 months to 3,009 years in prison for the crimes of 'disrupting the unity and territorial integrity of the state' (aggravated life sentence), 'being a member of an armed terrorist organization' (7 years and 6 months to 15 years), 'intentional killing of a child by bombing with premeditation' (aggravated life sentence), 'intentional killing by bombing with premeditation' (5 aggravated life sentences), 'attempted intentional killing by bombing with premeditation' against 99 people (1,930 years and 6 months to 2,970 years), and 'unauthorized possession or exchange of dangerous substances' (12 to 24 years).

In the indictment, it was requested that other suspects, including the fugitive defendant and organization leader Cemil Bayık, be sentenced to 7 aggravated life sentences each and 1,938 years to 3,016 years and 6 months in prison.