Non-prosecution decision in Kızılay tent sales investigation: Judicial path completely closed

Following the major earthquake disaster that occurred on February 6, 2023, the investigation launched into allegations that Kızılay sold tents that should have been sent to earthquake victims has concluded with a decision of non-prosecution by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. While the public was waiting for aid after the earthquake, allegations that Kızılay had sold tents were brought to the judiciary.

19 PEOPLE WERE SUSPECTS, CASE CLOSED

Within the scope of the investigation, 19 people, including the then-Kızılay President Kerem Kınık and the current president Fatma Meriç Yılmaz, had been included in the file with the status of "suspect."

Following applications made from different provinces, the file was consolidated at the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. However, the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office decided to close the file without taking the statements of the suspects and without conducting a detailed examination.

The investigation process also drew attention due to debates over judicial jurisdiction. The file was first sent to the Ankara West Courthouse and then to the Istanbul Anatolian Courthouse following a "lack of jurisdiction" decision by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. However, due to a jurisdictional dispute, the file was returned to Ankara.

TENT SALES CONFIRMED, BUT NO CRIMINAL ELEMENT FOUND

According to the report by İsmail Arı from BirGün, the financial advisor expert appointed by the prosecutor's office prepared a report that officially confirmed Kızılay's tent sales. However, in its decision dated December 29, 2025, the prosecutor's office ruled that the sales transaction did not cause public loss and that no criminal elements were present. For this reason, the file was closed.

NO NOTIFICATION WILL BE MADE

The prosecutor's office also ruled that the "no grounds for prosecution" decision should not be notified to the parties who filed the criminal complaints.