Three released in Istiklal Avenue bomb attack case

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

In the case related to the bomb attack that took place on November 13, 2022, in İstiklal Avenue in Taksim, Istanbul, resulting in the deaths of 6 people and the injury of 99 others, three defendants were released today (September 25) in the first hearing of the case.

12 detained defendants, including Ahlam Albashir who planted the bomb and was nabbed, and their lawyers attended today's hearing in Istanbul's 13th Heavy Penal Court. Other detained defendants joined the hearing through the Audio and Visual Information System (SEGBIS).

"Translation" defense

Defendant Ahmet Elşeybun, in his defense during the hearing, claimed that he met Ahlam Albashir while she worked with his mother in Esenler, and that he provided translation services for Albashir because he knew Turkish.

Elşeybun denied the accusations against him and said, "We went to Taksim once and to Fatih once. I didn't want to go. She was constantly taking photos. I became suspicious because she was taking so many photos and asked her. She said she was taking them to send to her sister."

Wants to talk to her sister

Defendant Ahlam Albashir, speaking during the hearing, said, "I just want to talk to my sister."

Defendant Hazni Gölge, who claimed to have resided in Edirne for 33 years, stated that he had discussed human smuggling with defendant Khalil Manje Hussein a month before the attack but did not meet with him on the day of the incident.

Gölge, asserting that he only knew Hüseyin Güneş among the defendants, said, "I condemn those who carried out this attack in my country. I feel ashamed to stand trial in such a case. Being tried for terrorism has affected my psychology."

Other defendants also requested their release during the hearing.

The court panel, in its interim decision, ordered the release of defendants Zekariya Muhammed Şemmuni, Muhammed Şiho, and Mesut Hesso, taking into account the possibility that the nature of the charges against them could change, and the time they had been in custody.

The court also imposed a foreign travel ban on the released defendants and ruled to continue the detention of the other defendants.

What happened?

On November 13, 2022, a bomb left by Ahlam Albashir exploded on Istiklal Avenue in Beyoğlu, Istanbul, resulting in the deaths of 6 people and the injury of 99 others.

According to the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it is alleged that defendants Ahlam Albashir and Bilal el-Hacmaus, were special intelligence operatives of the YPG/PYD (People's Defense Units/Democratic Union Party in North Syria), they were trained and given instructions by the organization and sent to Turkey with the explosive materials.

The indictment claims that the defendants entered Istanbul through illegal means using a network established by the organization (YPG/PYD) and were placed in houses belonging to the organization.

The indictment seeks sentences for the 36 defendants, including "undermining the unity of the state and integrity of the country," "establishing or leading an armed terrorist organization," "membership in an armed terrorist organization," "deliberate killing of a child with bombing," "attempted murder with bombing," "possession or trafficking of dangerous substances without permission," and "human smuggling."

The indictment also seeks aggravated life imprisonment for Ahlam Albashir on charges of "undermining the unity and integrity of the state," 7 years 6 months to 15 years for "membership in an armed terrorist organization," and various sentences for other charges, totaling multiple aggravated life sentences and thousands of years in prison. (AS/PE)