A Syrian woman has been sentenced to life in prison by a court in Istanbul for her involvement in a deadly explosion that occurred in 2022. The incident took place on Nov. 13, 2022, on Istiklal Avenue, a popular shopping district in Istanbul. The explosion resulted in the tragic loss of six lives, including two children, and left 99 others injured.
The woman, identified as Alham Albashir, was convicted on terrorism charges and received seven consecutive life sentences. According to reports, Albashir, along with another individual named Bilal el-Hacmaus, were intelligence operatives associated with the YPG, a Syrian Kurdish militia group, and its political branch, the PYD.
The indictment prepared by Istanbul prosecutors revealed that Turkey views the YPG as an extension of the PKK, a banned Kurdish separatist group that has been engaged in a long-standing conflict with Turkey. The PKK aims to establish an autonomous region in southeastern Turkey and has been designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey and its Western allies.
Albashir and el-Hacmaus allegedly received specialized training from the YPG and PYD and were sent to Turkey with explosives. They reportedly entered Istanbul with the assistance of a network established by the organizations. While Albashir faced legal consequences for her role in the explosion, el-Hacmaus managed to evade authorities and flee the country.
The ongoing conflict between the PKK and Turkey has resulted in significant casualties over the years, with tens of thousands of lives lost since the 1980s. The Turkish government and its Western allies continue to condemn the PKK as a terrorist group, emphasizing the need to address the root causes of the conflict and work towards a peaceful resolution.
