Champion Angels to be Commemorated on the Second Anniversary of the Earthquake Disaster

The earthquakes, measuring 7.7 and 7.6, affected 11 provinces and resulted in the death of 49 Turkish Cypriot citizens. Among them, 35 Turkish Cypriot athletes, teachers, and families from the Gazimağusa Turkish Maarif College were trapped under the rubble at the Grand Isias Hotel in Adıyaman. Gazimağusa lost a generation due to the earthquake.

Families who lost their loved ones at the Isias Hotel have not found peace, and their tears have not dried. They have been pursuing justice for the past 24 months. The families began their legal struggle on January 3, 2024, demanding that the perpetrators be tried for "possible intent" to prevent similar tragedies.

The legal battle, initiated by the families of the Champion Angels who died at the Isias Hotel and the tour guides and 10 injured individuals, lasted approximately 14 months for the perpetrators to be sentenced for "possible intent." In the last hearing on December 25, 2024, the Adıyaman 3rd High Criminal Court sentenced six defendants for "causing the death and injury of multiple people through conscious negligence," while five defendants were acquitted.

The court sentenced hotel owner Ahmet Bozkurt to 17 years 17 months and 7 days, his son Mehmet Fatih Bozkurt to 15 years 28 months and 28 days, architect Erdem Yıldız to 17 years 17 months and 7 days, civil engineer Halil Bağcı to 7 years 16 months, engineer Hasan Aslan to 15 years 16 months and 20 days, and engineer Mehmet Göncüoğlu to 7 years 16 months.

The court acquitted Ahmet Bozkurt's wife Ulviye Bozkurt, their children Bilge Açık, Efe Bozkurt, Seda Zeren, and Şule Özbek. Following the court decision, the families and government officials declared their commitment to continue the justice struggle on all platforms.

The Cypriot Turkish community, state and government officials, opposition parties, the Bar Association, and journalists closely followed the legal process. The Cypriot Turkish community also voiced their demands for justice for the "Champion Angels" through organized protests and social media. The Champion Angels Memorial Association organized torch-lit marches in Gazimağusa, with participation from thousands of people, including state and government officials and representatives from all political circles. A committee was formed in the Parliament to address the earthquake. The committee members visited Ankara and Adıyaman and monitored the investigation process.

The reasoned decision of the Isias Hotel case was announced on January 20. During the press conference held after the announcement, it was stated that the two-week appeal process had begun. Following technical preparations, an appeal petition will be filed, and a hearing date will be set by the court.

The children and families who lost their lives at the Isias Hotel in Adıyaman while attending a volleyball tournament began to be referred to as the "Champion Angels" after the pilot of the plane that brought their remains back to the island said, "I brought the Champion Angels back home."

Following the burial of the earthquake victims, families formed the Champion Angels Memorial Association on March 17, 2023, under the leadership of Cypriot Turkish Bar Association President Hasan Esendağlı, believing that justice could not be sought individually. The association's aim is to seek justice and to keep the names of the lost lives alive.

The students who lost their lives at the Isias Hotel were immortalized through a painting by Iranian artist and cartoonist Alireza Pakdel. The painting became the emblem of the Champion Angels Memorial Association.

As part of its social responsibility projects, the Champion Angels Memorial Association prepared a school project in collaboration with the entire community and supporters, providing scholarships to 210 children. The Council of Ministers decided to recognize the children and families of the Gazimağusa Turkish Maarif College sports delegation who died in the Adıyaman earthquake on February 6 as "Duty Martyrs." Burial areas in Gazimağusa and Yeniboğaziçi cemeteries were declared "Martyrdoms."

The Champion Angels will be commemorated on Thursday, February 6, the second anniversary of the earthquake, with ceremonies and events.

Commemorative Events

The Champion Angels Commemoration Ceremony will be held at 10:30 AM at the Champion Angels Martyrdom in Gazimağusa. Following this, at 11:30 AM, a commemoration program will be held at the Rauf Raif Denktaş Culture and Congress Center in Gazimağusa. On the same day, at 4:30 PM, a prayer service will be held for the Champion Angels at the Polatpaşa Mosque in Gazimağusa.

As part of the commemorative events, ceremonies will also be held for those who lost their lives in the earthquake and are buried in the Yeniboğaziçi Martyrdom, Atlılar, Dörtyol, Vadili, and Ulukışla cemeteries.

• In Yeniboğaziçi Martyrdom: graves of Mülkiye Dağlı, Abide Dağlı, Nazife Dağlı, Osman Çetintaş, and Havin Kılıç will be visited between 1:30-1:45 PM.

• In Atlılar Cemetery: the grave of Perihan Çetiner will be visited between 2:00-2:15 PM.

• In Dörtyol Cemetery: the graves of Bedriye Yeniçeri and Ecem Yeniçeri will be visited between 2:30-2:45 PM.

• In Vadili Cemetery: the grave of İbrahim Yakula will be visited between 3:00-3:15 PM.

• In Ulukışla Cemetery: the grave of Kaan Selim İş will be visited between 3:30-3:45 PM.

Source: TAK