The case regarding the fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Kartalkaya, the famous ski resort of Bolu, has concluded. In the fire that broke out on January 21, 2025, 78 people, 34 of whom were children, lost their lives, and 137 people were injured. In the case where 32 defendants, 20 of whom were under arrest, were tried, 11 people were sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment. The names of these 11 people, including the hotel owner, are as follows:
Hotel owner Halit Ergül, the hotel owner’s wife Emine Ergül, the hotel owner’s daughter Elif Aras, the hotel owner’s daughter Ceyda Hacıbekiroğlu, the hotel owner’s son-in-law Emir Aras, Hotel Manager Zeki Yılmaz, Hotel Accounting Manager Kadir Özdemir, Gazele Hotel Manager Ahmet Demir, Bolu Municipality Deputy Mayor Sedat Gülener, Bolu Municipality Acting Fire Chief Kenan Coşkun, and Bolu Municipality Firefighter İrfan Acar.
The Bolu 1st High Criminal Court sentenced the defendants, who were given life imprisonment 34 times each for the crime of “Killing with possible intent” for the 34 children, to an additional 24 years and 11 months each, 44 times for the crime of ‘Killing with possible intent’ for the 44 adults who lost their lives in the fire. The court did not apply any reductions in favor of the defendants. Two individuals who were tried without arrest were also arrested with this decision.
For the crime of “Causing the death and injury of multiple people through conscious negligence,” Cemal Özer and Mehmet Salun were sentenced to 22 years and 3 months each; Doğan Aydın, Muharrem Şen, and Kübra Demir were sentenced to 21 years, 4 months, and 15 days each; Reşat Bölük, Tahsin Pekcan, Hüseyin Özer, Ali Ağaoğlu, Aleyna Beşinci, İbrahim Polat, İsmail Karagöz, Sırrı Köstereli, Bünyamin Bal, Mehmet Özel, and Yeliz Erdoğan were sentenced to 21 years each; Yigithan Burak Çetin was sentenced to 12 years; Bayram Ütkü was sentenced to 18 years in prison, while Faysal Yaver, Ece Kayacan, and Enver Öztürk were acquitted. Additionally, the 11 defendants convicted of “Possible intent” were given various prison sentences for the crimes of injury and property damage.
The court board also decided to continue the detention of the arrested defendants, to arrest İbrahim Polat and İsmail Karagöz who were tried without arrest, and to apply the measures of ‘not leaving the residence’ and judicial control for Doğan Aydın.
After the decision, which is a milestone in their struggle, the families saw off the court board with applause. Members of the “We Have No Other Life” platform emphasized that their quest for justice is not over, saying, “Now it’s the turn of the responsible institutions.” The lawyer for the defendant Kadir Özdemir, Serbülent Baykan, stated in the hearing:
“I do not have a request for acquittal and release for my client. This is a massacre. In the Bolu case, intent, negligence, etc., cannot be debated; these are bait thrown in front of us. This is, without debate, intentional killing. My client is mentally disabled. I am representing the mentally disabled as a favor, he can sue me if he wants. I feel this loss of life deeply in my heart. The workers at the hotel also died. They betrayed even their own employees. Does Tourism Minister Ersoy have immunity? He markets the hotel through ETS Tur. I request the court to file a criminal complaint against the Minister; they forced the investigation permit.”
Abdurrahman Gençbay, the Head of the 9th Chamber of the Council of State, who lost his son in the fire, said:
“We never lost hope in justice. From the first day, from the first hearing, we always maintained our hope in the esteemed board, especially the presiding judge. We said that the decision to come out of here would have a resonance in society and would soothe hearts. Thankfully, the decision reached at this point is, in my opinion, a tremendous decision that can set a precedent in Turkish legal history. Today, the court board has proven to all of Turkey, to the whole world, that there are judges in Bolu.”
Based on the application of the Grand Kartal Hotel, which opened in 1998 and operated for a full 27 years, the Bolu Municipality Fire Department inspected the Hotel on 16.12.2024 and prepared an ‘Inspection and Audit Control Form’. From the answers given to the questions on the form, it was determined that the hotel’s emergency exit was inadequate, the fire alarm system was present but not working, and there were deficiencies in the fire extinguishing equipment. When the report came out this way, the hotel official requested the cancellation of their application to Bolu Municipality on 24.12.2024.
Lack of Supervision Invited Disaster
The fact that the hotel’s exterior was covered with wooden materials, and the most basic measures against fire were not even present, caused the fire to grow quickly and become uncontrollable, thus depriving 78 lives of their right to life. When the right to safe living, the most basic right of the citizens of this country, is not effectively protected by the authorized institutions, the result is unfortunately tragedy.
The transparency of audit mechanisms, accountability, and the full fulfillment of their responsibilities by authorities are fundamental elements for preventing such disasters. However, when these duties are not fulfilled, citizens are forced to turn to individual efforts to ensure their own safety, which is a sign of a society’s systematic failure. The revelation of the truth and the accountability of those responsible are essential not only for ensuring justice but also to prevent similar events from recurring.
As a tourism operator and hotel owner, I know closely how audit processes work. While we fulfill all procedures completely due to the value we give to human life and our work, we do not compromise on fire precautions. Let’s discuss how fire precautions should be in a hotel, with examples we apply in our own hotel:
- Republic of Turkey Ministry of Tourism Audit: Our hotel has been under the audit of the Ministry of Tourism since the day we were established.
- Fire Detection and Warning Systems: The most technologically advanced fire detection and warning systems have been installed in all areas of our hotel. These systems are regularly tested and updated.
- Emergency Exits and Signage: Emergency exit doors located on every floor and in all common areas are made of non-flammable material and positioned for easy access. Emergency direction signs are made of phosphorescent material to facilitate night vision.
- Fire Extinguishing Equipment: A sufficient number of correctly positioned fire extinguishers are available throughout the hotel. These devices are checked at regular intervals and renewed when necessary.
- Announcement and Fire Alarm System in Emergencies: In our hotel, the fire alarm system is activated in emergencies, and announcements are made via speakers on every floor.
- Training and Drills: All our personnel regularly receive training on what to do in case of a fire. Additionally, fire drills are conducted at certain intervals to test emergency scenarios.
- Audit and Maintenance: Regular maintenance and audit studies are carried out both with Ministry audits and independent control firms. If any deficiency is detected during this process, immediate intervention is made.
Thanks to these practices, our hotel is accepted as a safe establishment not only in Turkey but also by international standards. We continue to do our job in the best way possible with an understanding that places human life at the center.
The Grand Kartal Hotel fire has been etched into our history as a black mark as a bitter result of a chain of negligence. Taking all necessary measures to prevent similar disasters is a requirement of the respect we hold for the memory of our 78 lives.
I once again wish God’s mercy upon our citizens who lost their lives and patience to their families. This fire will remain a deep wound in all our consciences.
Murat TÜZEL
Şişli City Council Tourism Commission Chairman
Member of the World Federation of Travel Journalists and Writers
