Striking comment from Nedim Türkmen's lawyer brother: If the allegations are true, it is an act close to murder

78 people lost their lives in the fire tragedy that occurred 10 days ago at the Grand Kartal Hotel at the Bolu Kartalkaya Ski Center. Nedim Türkmen (59) from Ordu, his wife Ayşe Neva Türkmen (57), their daughter Ala Dora Türkmen (18), and their son Yüce Ata Türkmen (22) also lost their lives in the fire.

A mawlid program was held for the late Türkmen family at the Bahçelievler Ulu Mosque in the Altınordu district following the evening prayer. During the program, the Quran was recited and prayers were offered for all those who lost their lives in the fire.

"AN ACT CLOSE TO MURDER"

Making statements before the program, Nedim Türkmen's brother, Lawyer Adem Türkmen, said, "There are no words for this pain. I am not even fully aware of the situation; it feels like a dream to me. It was a situation we never expected. My brother, my sister-in-law, and the children lost their lives in the prime of their lives.

Yesterday, I heard allegations that hotel staff who were on the same floor as my brother and his family were saved, that they intervened in the fire, and that they did not notify the guests. If the matter is truly like this, I think it is an act close to murder.

Are people's lives this cheap? Whoever made the choice between the hotel's reputation and human lives, we will hold them accountable. We are currently busy living through our grief, but those who deserve it will face the consequences," he said.

"HUMAN LIVES SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE PRIORITY"

Speaking about the allegations that necessary precautions were not taken at the hotel, Türkmen said, "If there is negligence here, there is no right or left to that negligence; a lot of people lost their lives there. We need to change our mindset entirely. There are various allegations between the hotel and the municipality. Whoever the authorized party in the municipality was, they should have acted as follows: they should have provided information saying, 'This hotel has deficiencies. It has made an application in this manner.' Therefore, let these things not happen again. Many people in the prime of their lives experienced terrible things while dreaming of other things. Currently, there are condolences; we are sharing our pain. The whole family lost their lives in their best years because of nonsensical things. Let there be no more absurd things where self-interest takes precedence. What would it have cost to take all the precautions? Did that hotel owner make a lot of profit now? What happened? As a result of this accident, his life ended too. People had come there for a vacation; their lives should have been the priority," he said.

"LET US LIVE OUR GRIEF FIRST"

Noting that they will fight for the negligence to be clarified and the truth to be revealed, Lawyer Türkmen stated, "We will hold them accountable before the law. I have not entered into this polemic at all, and I do not want to. We will do everything in our power to ensure that the truth is brought to light. But first, let us live our grief," he said.

News Source: İHA