The court in Istanbul sentenced a Syrian woman, Alham Albashir, to seven consecutive life sentences for her involvement in a deadly explosion that took place in the city in 2022. The blast occurred on Istiklal Avenue, a popular shopping district, and resulted in the deaths of six people, including two children, and left 99 others wounded. Albashir, along with another individual named Bilal el-Hacmaus, were identified as intelligence operatives of the YPG, a Syrian Kurdish militia group, and its political branch, the PYD. The two individuals were accused of carrying out the attack on behalf of the organization, with the goal of furthering their terrorist activities in Turkey.
According to the indictment prepared by Istanbul prosecutors, Albashir and el-Hacmaus received specialized training from the YPG and PYD before being sent to Turkey with explosives. They were said to have traveled to Istanbul with the help of a network established by the organization, with el-Hacmaus managing to escape the country following the attack. The YPG is considered by Turkey to be the Syrian arm of the PKK, a group that has been engaged in a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state. The conflict between the PKK and Turkey has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties, and the PKK is classified as a terrorist organization by both Turkey and its Western allies.
The court’s decision to hand down seven consecutive life sentences to Alham Albashir reflects the severity of her involvement in the deadly explosion on Istiklal Avenue. The attack, which targeted a bustling shopping district in Istanbul, resulted in significant loss of life and injuries, including the deaths of two children. Albashir and her accomplice were accused of being intelligence operatives of the YPG and PYD, who were allegedly responsible for carrying out the attack on behalf of the Kurdish militia group. The sentencing sends a strong message about Turkey’s commitment to combating terrorism and holding individuals accountable for their actions.
Alham Albashir and Bilal el-Hacmaus were identified as having received specialized training from the YPG and PYD before being dispatched to Turkey with explosives to carry out the attack. They were reported to have traveled to Istanbul with the assistance of a network established by the organization, underscoring the premeditated nature of the attack. El-Hacmaus was able to evade capture and flee the country following the explosion, leaving Albashir to face the consequences of their actions alone. The court’s decision to impose seven consecutive life sentences on Albashir highlights the severity of the crime and serves as a warning to those who engage in terrorist activities on Turkish soil.
The long-standing conflict between the PKK and the Turkish state has claimed tens of thousands of lives since the 1980s, with the PKK aiming to establish an autonomous region in southeastern Turkey. Turkey, along with its Western allies, has designated the PKK as a terrorist organization and has taken measures to combat their activities both within Turkey and abroad. The sentencing of Albashir serves as a reminder of the ongoing threat posed by terrorist groups like the PKK and the importance of international cooperation in addressing such threats. The court’s decision reflects Turkey’s determination to hold individuals accountable for acts of terrorism and to bring justice to the victims and their families.
