Current Affairs

Fire Disaster in Bolu Kartalkaya

36 of those killed in the Kartalkaya hotel fire were children.

At least 36 children lost their lives in Kartalkaya, according to information compiled by BBC Turkish from open sources.

The identification of the victims of the fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Bolu Kartalkaya has been completed.

Ministry of Justice Forensic Medicine Institution announced the names of 78 people who lost their lives in the fire.

According to the data we compiled from open sources such as news reports, social media posts, condolence messages published by organizations and schools, at least 36 people aged 18 and under lost their lives in the fire.

The disaster touched at least 30 families.

At least one child from almost every family lost his or her life in the fire, which has been the subject of increasing debates on negligence and supervision.

Most of the children were either in primary or secondary school.

Many schools published condolence messages for their students who lost their lives.

Some families who wanted to have a winter vacation with their children because it was the semester break lost all their members.

Content source

Silent Scream: Narin Güran and Children Deprived of Their Right to Life

Every child has the right to live!

Every child has the fundamental right to live. However, across the world, many children are deprived of this most basic right due to violence, neglect, and failing systems. The murder of Narin Güran is a tragic example that deeply wounds society’s conscience and reminds us once again of the necessity of protecting children's rights.

Who Was Narin Güran and Why Was She Killed?

The murder of Narin Güran took place in the rural Tavşantepe neighborhood of Bağlar district, Diyarbakır. Eight-year-old Narin Güran was reported missing by her family on August 21, 2024, and her body was found on September 8, 2024. Her body was discovered inside a sack near the Eğertutmaz Stream, close to the village.

According to the Forensic Medicine Institution's report released on September 19, 2024, Narin Güran's cause of death was determined to be "asphyxiation due to obstruction of the mouth and nose and pressure on the neck."

On December 28, 2024, the Diyarbakır 8th High Criminal Court sentenced her mother Yüksel Güran, uncle Salim Güran, and brother Enes Güran to aggravated life imprisonment for jointly committing murder. Nevzat Bahtiyar, who hid the body in the riverbed, was sentenced to 4 years and 6 months in prison.

During the trial, no confessions regarding the murder emerged. Only Nevzat Bahtiyar admitted to hiding Narin Güran's body in the riverbed.

The Right to Life and Children's Rights

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child states that every child has the right to life and that governments must ensure the protection of this right. However, in reality, many children suffer from neglect and violence. What are our individual and societal responsibilities to prevent the loss of innocent lives like Narin Güran?

What Should We Do?

• Raising Awareness: More educational and awareness campaigns should be conducted on children's rights.
• Legal Reforms: Existing laws should be reviewed and strengthened to provide better protection for children.
• Social Solidarity: Remaining silent in the face of violence against children makes us complicit. Every individual must be sensitive and take action.

Justice must be served for Narin Güran and all the children who have been deprived of their right to live. Being their voice and defending their rights is our moral duty. Before another child loses their right to life, we must act together.

Content source