Şule İdil Dere Trial/İstanbul On the 12th of May, 2016, Şule İdil Dere was killed on a park’s pedestrian walkway in Istanbul/Turkey by a construction truck that was working without any safety measures taken for pedestrians. That truck was a vehicle of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB). No one has taken any responsibility until today. 

The driver of the truck that ran over and killed İdil has not been detained even for a single night. The driver has never undergone any internal investigation. The Head of IMM (İBB) Environmental Protection and Control Department, who carried out the fieldwork that took life was promoted to President of IMM Inspection Board after 11 days.

Experts found 11 IMM officials responsible.

12 months later, the Istanbul Governor's Office and the Istanbul Regional Administrative Court did not allow the trial of the eight senior officials.

20 months later, in December 2017 3 IMM officials tried in the first hearing, stated in their defense that it was not their duty to take life safety measures since the relevant work was contracted to İSTAÇ A.Ş.

4 officials of İSTAÇ A.Ş. tried in the case said in their defense that "The IMM is the the actual owner of the work. Occupational health and safety measures or pedestrian safety measures should have been taken by the IMM".

It became clear that both organizations did not take any pedestrian safety measures, including hanging sign that warned about the work.

Despite the fact that the expert reports stated “İdil was not faulty", the lawyers of IMM and its contractor İSTAÇ A.Ş. repeated the same statement and said "İdil was looking at her phone while she was walking on the pedestrian walkway in the park, she is guilty, too."

The lawyer of the same defendants accused Şule İdil Dere family of turning the case into a blood vengeance against İBB which provides successful services. The family was seeking justice in the court.

In the case where Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) was the principal employer and İSTAÇ A.Ş. was the contractor, penal sentences from 2 years to 6 years are asked for 7 people from both corporations including the driver on the ground  of "causing death by negligence" relying on Article 85/1 of the Turkish Criminal Law.

The driver confessed at the first hearing that he had continued maneuvering backwards even though he had known that where he was driving was not safe for pedestrians. The demand for trial of the driver on the ground of “killing with eventual intent” and the other defendants on the ground of “intentional killing that results from recklessness” in the Heavy Penal Court was rejected in both hearings.

4 hearings have been held up to now.

At the 4th hearing, the court ruled that İSTAÇ A.Ş. defendants did not need to attend the next hearings so as not to prevent them from doing their jobs as they worked for public services.
Despite three expert reports completing each other from the start of the case up until now and no contradiction among these reports, the court has asked for a new expert examination upon the request of defendants ‘lawyer.
 
The 5th hearing of Şule İdil Dere case will be held at the 57th Criminal Court of First Instance on the 3rd of October, 2018.
 
No one has taken any responsibility until today. 

The Mayor of İstanbul and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality has not even said  “sorry” until today, let alone take any responsibility.

The fundamental duty of a municipality is to serve and govern while protecting the safety of life and property of the people and the city.  

After Idil’s death, in İstanbul only, 58 people -mostly pedestrians- were killed under concrete trucks and concrete mixers. İBB has not made any statement so far.
İdil died because the municipality didn’t place even a single warning sign or warning light for pedestrians. They didn’t dedicate special striped/fenced lane for pedestrians while working there. 

This is an urban crime.

İdil was 23 years-old university student and her only “crime” was to walk in accordance with the rules on İstanbul/Kadıköy/Yoğurtçu Park’s pedestrian walkway which was 500 meters away from her home. 

 We ask for your support to bring those responsible for İdil’s death to justice. 

27 months have passed!

This urban crime should not be covered up!

Your support for change.org/suleidildere campaign is very important for a fair trial, trying those responsible, and imposing dissuasive penalties.

Thank you for your support.

The Family of Şule İdil Dere

8th August 2018

For more information please contact:

suleidilderinfo@gmail.com

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Twitter @SuleIdilDere

YouTube / Şule İdil Dere