Filo Jet families demand life sentences over ferry disaster

Relatives gathered outside Girne Court on Friday as suspects appeared for their eighth hearing in connection with the sinking, which occurred 47 days ago.

Dilek Özbiler, who lost her mother Nuray Zeytun Özbiler, questioned why the vessel had continued operating despite reported mechanical problems, including a serious steering defect.

She also criticised delays in examining the vessel's voyage data recorder, claiming investigators had reviewed only 12 days of 68 days of recorded audio.

"Twenty-eight people lost their lives because of negligence. The price of 28 lives cannot be four to seven years. We want life imprisonment," she said.

Özbiler called for greater transparency and demanded that shipping company executives, inspection authorities and relevant officials also be investigated.

Cengiz Bayhan, a relative of victim Mehmet Bayhan, accused police of failing to conduct a sufficiently thorough investigation and questioned why senior company officials had not been held accountable.

He called on Public Works and Transport Minister Faiz Sucuoğlu to intervene and warned that families were prepared to take their case to the European Court of Human Rights.

"We will not let this matter go. If necessary, we will take it all the way to the European Court of Human Rights," Bayhan said.

The families vowed to continue gathering outside Girne Court every Friday until justice is served.