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Outrage as Suspects in Isias Hotel Collapse Case are Released

Published January 20, 2026, 18:09
Outrage as Suspects in Isias Hotel Collapse Case are Released

All suspects in the case of the Isias Hotel collapse in Antakya, Turkey, during the 2023 earthquake have been released, despite three being convicted of negligence and sentenced to 10 years in prison. The court rejected requests for arrest warrants. The decision of the Antakya High Criminal Court has sparked outrage from the families of the victims, including the volleyball team from Famagusta, who were among the 72 people who lost their lives in the collapse. The families claim that the building had undergone illegal and irregular additions of floors and removal of beams. The court convicted former Deputy Mayor Osman Bulut, Head of the Licensing Office Bilal Baltzi, and Director of Planning/Projects/Zoning Mehmet Salih Alkais, but rejected the request for their pre-trial detention. The three convicted individuals remain subject to judicial control and have been banned from leaving Turkey. On the other hand, permanent employees Abdurrahman Karaslan and Fazil Karakus, as well as Yusuf Gul, were acquitted. The lawyers of the victims and the injured are seeking the conviction of those responsible for conscious negligence and possible intent, as the hotel had illegally received permits for the additions and changes made. The president of the Turkish Cypriot Bar Association, Hasan Esentagli, stated that an appeal will be filed against the decision and that the process will continue in other courts. Tufan Erhurman emphasized that the pursuit of justice is not over and that the fight for accountability will continue.