The family of 25-year-old mechanical engineer Kadir Kaan Özçelik, who lost his life in an explosion at the HABAŞ Iron and Steel Factory in the Aliağa district of İzmir, expressed their grief.
20-year-old Şeval Özçelik, who explained that her brother had previously suffered burns on his hands at the factory, stated that her brother could not file a complaint because he was told he would be fired if he reported a workplace accident, and she demanded that those responsible be held accountable.
18 workers lost their lives in an explosion that occurred around noon yesterday at the HABAŞ Iron and Steel Factory on the Yeni Foça road in the Aliağa district of İzmir. Among those who lost their lives was 25-year-old Kadir Kaan Özçelik, who had been working as a mechanical engineer at the factory for 3 months.
His family, waiting in front of the İzmir Forensic Medicine Institute for the young engineer's funeral, expressed their deep pain and reacted against the factory officials. Özçelik's sister, Şeval Özçelik, demanded that those responsible for her brother's death be held accountable.
"I WILL KILL MYSELF IF NECESSARY, BUT I WILL DEMAND THAT ACCOUNT"
Speaking after her brother's death, 20-year-old Şeval Özçelik recounted her last conversation with her brother, who was planning to buy her a gift for her birthday.
Özçelik said, "My birthday was on November 16. He was going to buy me gifts. He had just had a haircut and was going to show it to me in the evening. He asked, 'How should I cut my hair in the morning?' You took this away from me. You will answer for this one by one. From the least guilty to the most guilty, I will kill myself if necessary, but I will demand that account. You will answer for this one by one."
"MY BROTHER DIED IN THE MORNING, THEY DIDN'T TELL US"
Stating that her brother had only been working at the factory for 3 months, Şeval Özçelik said that her mother and father could not even mourn yet due to the pain they were experiencing.
Expressing that the news of her brother's death was not given to the family in a timely manner, Özçelik said, "My mother and father cannot even mourn for my brother yet. Because my brother was killed yesterday around 12:00. He was killed by the managers and other responsible parties, but I don't even know who is responsible yet. My brother died in the morning. But they didn't tell us that my brother had died," she stated.
THE YOUNG ENGINEER HAD PREVIOUSLY SUFFERED HAND BURNS
Explaining that Kadir Kaan Özçelik had previously suffered burns on his hands in an incident at the factory, his sister said that her brother could not file a complaint due to the workplace accident.
Şeval Özçelik stated that people around him scared her brother by threatening him with dismissal, and described what happened with these words:
"People around him scared him by saying, 'If you call it a workplace accident, they will fire you, they will harass you.' The boy couldn't even file a complaint. He went to Menemen State Hospital for a check-up, but he couldn't file a complaint. A week later, he went back to the workplace to work. They told him he would be threatened. They murdered my brother. I will not let this go. Do not sleep comfortably. I will do everything in my power."
Kadir Kaan Özçelik's aunt also reacted to the situation, stating that they would hold those responsible for the incident accountable.
News Source: İHA
