Dialogos

Turkey Earthquake: No Jail Time for Those Guilty in Isias Collapse

Published January 20, 2026, 19:02
Turkey Earthquake: No Jail Time for Those Guilty in Isias Collapse

All suspects in the case of the Isias hotel collapse in Antakya, Turkey, during the February 6, 2023 earthquake, have been released despite convictions. Three of the six accused were found guilty of negligence and sentenced to 10 years in prison, but requests for arrest warrants were denied. The convictions apply to former Deputy Mayor Osman Bulut, Head of the Licensing Office Bilal Baltzi, and Director of Planning/Projects/Zoning Mehmet Salih Alkais, who are subject to judicial control and a travel ban from Turkey. The remaining three defendants, Abdurrahman Karaslan, Fazil Karakus, and Yusuf Gul, were acquitted. The decision has sparked strong reactions from the families of the victims, including the volleyball team from Famagusta, as the building had undergone illegal and irregular additions of floors and beam cuts. The president of the Turkish Cypriot Bar Association, Hasan Esentagli, expressed his disappointment over the lack of publication of the reasoning behind the decision and announced an appeal. The process will continue in Gaziantep and Ankara. The lawyers of the victims and the injured are seeking the conviction of those responsible for conscious negligence and possible intent, given the irregularities in the hotel's permits and construction. Nicos Kirzis, president of Apollon, stated that the pursuit of justice will continue, emphasizing the importance of the case for all involved.