Remembering Soma Martyrs: 9th Anniversary Prayers – Last Minute News in Turkey
On May 13, 2014, a fire broke out during the shift change in a mine operated by Soma Kömürleri AŞ. The disaster resulted in the deaths of 301 workers, and the galleries were filled with smoke. After a 96-hour rescue effort, 486 workers were rescued. The Turkish nation mourned the tragedy, and three days of mourning were declared.
In response, the country rallied to support the families of the miners. An aid campaign organized by AFAD collected 50 million liras, which were deposited into each family’s account. Pensions were also arranged for the families of the martyred miners, and the keys to houses built by municipalities, business representatives, and football clubs were delivered to all affected families.
The Miners Martyrdom was established in the Soma Cemetery, where the graves of 39 workers lost in the disaster are located. However, a jurisdiction process was issued after the disaster. Soma Kömür İşletmeleri AŞ Chairman of the Board Can Gürkan, General Manager Ramazan Doğru, Operations Manager Akın Çelik, Technical Manager İsmail Adalı, Technical Supervisor Ertan Ersoy, and Police Technician Mehmet Ali Günay Çelik were arrested and the “Soma Mining Disaster Case” process began.
The Akhisar Heavy Penal Court sentenced five detainees to prison terms ranging from 15 years to 22 years and six months, released nine defendants on condition of judicial control, and acquitted 37 defendants. Can Gürkan was sentenced to 20 years in prison, mining engineers Adem Ormanoğlu and Efkan Kurt were sentenced to 12 years and six months, and Haluk Evinç was acquitted.
The 12th Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court upheld the decision of the local court on April 4, 2022, following the completion of the retrial process.
