Families protest acquittal in trial for fatal collapse during Feb. 6 quakes

Families held a justice vigil after three defendants were acquitted in the Furkan Apartment case, where 51 people died in the Feb. 6 earthquakes. Protesters condemned the ruling and demanded the arrest of fugitive contractors responsible for the deaths.

Sunday August 25 2024 10:10 pm

Families of the dead held banners reading "Columns were cut here" and "We want justice."

Duvar English

Families of earthquake victims on Aug. 25 began a vigil for justice after three defendants were acquitted in the Furkan Apartment case, where 51 people died during the Feb. 6 earthquakes centered in southeastern Turkey’s Maraş province.

Seçkin Şahin, who lost his son, said, "We cannot accept the acquittal of three defendants in a place where it was clearly determined that columns were cut. We demand the capture of the fugitive contractors responsible for the deaths of 51 people."

The Furkan Apartment was the only building in Antep’s Nizip district that collapsed and resulted in fatalities during the Feb. 6 earthquakes. 51 people died in the building's rubble, and it was confirmed that columns had been cut.

On July 19, the Nizip Heavy Penal Court acquitted defendants Faik Öğüt, Eyüp Öğüt, and Nejdet Alpay, while holding construction supervisor Yılmaz Şahin Yurtyapan responsible with a sentence of 16 years and eight months in prison.

The cases of fugitive defendants Abdullah Devrim Sever and Hasan Hüseyin Sever were separated. The court’s detailed ruling has not yet been released.

Relatives of those who died in the Furkan Apartment began their vigil for justice at the site of the building’s ruins, protesting the acquittal. They held banners reading, "We do not accept the acquittal, we want justice," "Columns were cut in this building, we want justice," and "The killers are free, where is justice?"

Speaking to ANKA News Agency, Seçkin Şahin, who lost his 19-year-old son Emre in the collapse, stated, "We cannot accept the acquittal of the defendants. We demand the capture of the fugitive Sever brothers, who are responsible for the deaths of 51 people. We want justice."

Topics Feb. 6 Earthquakes Maraş trial contractors building collapse