Flash development in the accident involving Zehra Kınık... 'Was this the price of a life?' Mother withdraws complaint

A new development has occurred in the case of Batın Barlas Çeki, who lost his life in an accident involving Zehra Kınık, the daughter of former Turkish Red Crescent President Kerem Kınık. Hasret Doğan, the mother of 17-year-old Çeki, has officially withdrawn her complaint and appeal against the defendant, Fatıma Zehra Kınık Demir.

The accident occurred when the vehicle driven by Zehra Kınık Demir, the daughter of Kerem Kınık, struck a motorcycle, resulting in the death of Batın Barlas Çeki and injuries to three others.

SUBMITTED PETITION TO THE COURT

According to the report by İsmail Saymaz, Hasret Doğan submitted a petition to the court on February 19, 2026. The file was sent to the 19th Criminal Chamber of the Istanbul Regional Court of Justice for appellate review via the Istanbul Anatolian 8th High Criminal Court.

The petition included the following statements:

“I am withdrawing my complaint against the defendant Fatma Zehra Kınık Demir. All my material and moral damages have been compensated. I have no claims for material or moral compensation from the defendant. I am also withdrawing my appeal.”

SENTENCED TO 2 YEARS AND 6 MONTHS IN PRISON IN DECEMBER

In the second hearing held in December 2025, Kınık Demir was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison. The court ruled that the travel ban on the defendant would remain in effect and that her driver's license would be suspended for one year.

Previously, a 4-year and 2-month prison sentence had been handed down in the same case; however, after some complainants withdrew their complaints, the decision was overturned by the appellate court and the case was retried.

HAD REACTED BY SAYING “IT’S LIKE A JOKE”

Following the verdict hearing, mother Hasret Doğan had made a statement in front of the courthouse, reacting harshly to the sentence. Criticizing the decision with the words, “Is the price of a life two years?”, Doğan had also used strong language for those who withdrew their complaints and announced that they would pursue an appeal.

In her statement, Doğan argued that the sentence was insufficient and expressed that the penalties given for traffic offenses were not deterrent enough.

“SHE IS EXPECTED TO SERVE THREE MONTHS”

The family's lawyer, Uysal Uğurlu, stated after the December hearing that the defendant was initially given a three-year sentence, which was then reduced to 2 years and 6 months after applying a 1/6 discretionary reduction.

Uğurlu stated that under the current execution law, the defendant is expected to remain in prison for approximately three months, that the sentence could be served in an open prison, and that she could then be subject to two years of supervised release.

During the hearings, the defense side had stated that material and moral compensation had been paid to the mother of the deceased Batın Barlas Çeki and to the injured parties, and that some complainants had withdrawn their complaints. The defense counsel had claimed that Kınık Demir was faultless in the accident and requested the deferment of the announcement of the verdict.

Lawyer Uysal Uğurlu, opposing these defenses, had stated that it was determined by three separate reports that Kınık Demir did not obey the “stop” sign and that she had hit the motorcycle while exiting from a side road onto the main street.

The court did not accept the defense's request to “compensate for damages and defer the verdict” and ruled for a prison sentence.