Acquittal after 26 years in Mavi Çarşı case: Azime Işık released from prison

A significant development has occurred regarding the Mavi Çarşı attack in Kadıköy, Istanbul, which took place on March 13, 1999, and was carried out by the terrorist organization PKK, resulting in the deaths of 13 people and injuries to 2 others. Azime Işık, who had been held responsible for the attack and sentenced to life imprisonment, having spent 26 years in prison, was acquitted as a result of a retrial. Following the verdict, Işık was released from the İzmir Şakran Women's Closed Prison.

The incident occurred on March 13, 1999, at approximately 16:25 at the Mavi Çarşı building in Kadıköy. Militants linked to the terrorist organization PKK threw Molotov cocktails into the shopping center and also hurled them at the display windows of some businesses while fleeing. During the attack, some of the Molotov cocktails hit the perfume section inside the center. The fire spread rapidly due to the ignition of perfumes and gasoline. The flames engulfed the entire floor; 13 people inside lost their lives, and 2 people were injured.

SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT IN 2007

In the case opened regarding the attack, the Istanbul 11th High Criminal Court sentenced defendants Engin Atabey, Abdullah Günay, and Metin Yamalak to aggravated life imprisonment on May 7, 2007, and also sentenced Azime Işık, who was alleged to have acted as a lookout during the incident, to life imprisonment. The court stated that the act was carried out to protest the bringing of PKK terrorist organization leader Abdullah Öcalan to Turkey. The 9th Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation upheld these sentences.

ECHR AND AYM INTERVENE

Years later, Azime Işık's lawyers took the file to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). The ECHR decided that Işık should be retried. The decision was forwarded to the Constitutional Court (AYM) in Turkey. The AYM also took the ECHR's decision into account and ruled for the case to be retried.

The AYM also decided that 30 thousand liras in non-pecuniary damages should be paid to Azime Işık. While other compensation claims were rejected, it was ruled that a total of 19 thousand 246.90 TL in litigation expenses, consisting of 446.90 TL in court fees and 18 thousand 800 TL in attorney fees, should be paid.

RELEASE DECISION AFTER 26 YEARS

The Istanbul 11th High Criminal Court, which conducted the retrial, issued an acquittal for Azime Işık with its decision in 2025. The court pointed out that there was no evidence proving Işık's direct connection to the attack in question. Following the decision, Işık, who had been in prison for 26 years, was released.

News Source: 12punto