Seven life sentences and 1,794 years in prison for the perpetrator of the terrorist attack in Istanbul in 2022 – Balkans

Today, a judicial panel of the 13th High Criminal Court in Istanbul sentenced the perpetrators of the terrorist act on November 13, 2022 on the central Istiklal Boulevard in Istanbul, in which 6 people were killed and 99 people were injured, it was reported. Turkish media quoted by BTA.

The most severe punishment was awarded to the Syrian Ahlam Albashir, who, according to the indictment, carried the bag with the homemade bomb and left it on the boulevard. He received seven aggravated life sentences, 1,794 years in prison and a fine of 22,000 Turkish lira for “destroying the unity and integrity of the state” and “intentionally killing” six people.

A total of 36 people are accused in this case, including the terrorist Cemil Bayak, who is considered the organizer of the attack, but is missing. Some time ago, Turkish media wrote that he fled to Bulgaria.

The thirty-six defendants, including the fugitive Cemil Bayak, received seven times aggravated life sentences and up to 3 thousand 16 years and 6 months in prison for “violating the unity of the state and territorial integrity, creating or leading an armed terrorist organization, membership in an armed terrorist organization, intentional homicide of a child by bombing, intentional homicide by bombing, attempted homicide by intentional bombing.”

Ahlam Albashir and some of the detained accused attended the hearing and several others were included through audio and video information system. Ahlam Albashir’s lawyers were also present at the meeting.

The defendants Fatma Berkel, Ferhat Habesh, Ahmed Karkes and Amar Jarkas were granted the right to a supplementary defense.

According to the indictment, the 2022 attack on Istiqlal Boulevard was planned and carried out by a cell called “The Syrians” of the Syrian People’s Defense Forces, linked to the terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

According to the indictment, the perpetrators were trained specifically for terrorist attacks in Turkey and were sent for this purpose.