35 workers lost their lives in 27 years... NEW Party Izmir Provincial Chairman Çağatay Güç: 'This issue cannot be solved by attending the funeral, responsibility must be taken!'

The explosion, in which 18 workers lost their lives at the HABAŞ Iron and Steel Factory in Aliağa district of Izmir, once again revealed the painful toll of worker deaths that have been going on for years.

With the latest disaster, the number of workers who lost their lives due to work accidents at HABAŞ facilities reached 35.

While grieving families and questions awaiting answers are left behind after every tragedy, the NEW Party delegation reacted to the policies of lack of control, negligence and impunity.

Provincial Chairman Çağatay Güç said, "This issue cannot be solved by attending the funeral," and called on those responsible to resign, while Gamze Taşcıer emphasized that the disaster was happening in plain sight. Mahmut Tanal, on the other hand, wanted the investigation to be carried out within the scope of possible intent.

Following the explosion at the HABAŞ Iron and Steel Factory, in which 18 workers lost their lives, the NEW Party delegation made a statement in front of the factory and reacted to the government and relevant ministries.

NEW Party Izmir Provincial Chairman Çağatay Güç, Deputy Chairman Gamze Taşcıer, Şanlıurfa Deputy Mahmut Tanal and Muğla Deputy Cumhur Uzun emphasized that the disaster was the result of lack of control, insufficient occupational safety measures and impunity policies. Drawing attention to the fatal work accidents that occurred in the past years, Güç said, "This issue cannot be solved by attending the funeral, you must take responsibility," and called on the authorities to resign.

While Taşcıer reacted with the words "What has changed is only the names of the workers who lost their lives, what has not changed is the government that does not take responsibility", Tanal wanted the investigation to be carried out within the scope of possible intent rather than reckless homicide. Uzun said, "In an environment where you were happy because you found a job four days ago, today you are underground. If that workplace becomes your grave, this is no longer the country we want."

Announcing that they will provide legal support to the families of the workers who lost their lives, the NEW Party delegation stated that they will follow the process until all those responsible for the disaster are held accountable. A total of 35 workers lost their lives in work accidents that occurred at HABAŞ from 1999 to November 11, 2026.

“THE REASON FOR THESE DEATHS IS LACK OF CONTROL”

Emphasizing that the disaster in Aliağa was not the first, Güç stated that occupational murders have been occurring in the region for years. Reminding the workers who lost their lives in the past, Güç said, "Four workers lost their lives in 1999. Worker deaths occurred again in 2007, 2008, 2013, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2024. Even this year, workers lost their lives before this incident occurred. These are related to lack of precaution. These are the correct conditions for occupational safety." "This is happening because the Ministry does not properly monitor and supervise this work and leaves job security to the initiative of the capital owners," he said.

“THE DUTY OF THE STATE IS TO ENSURE THE SECURITY OF PEOPLE”

Stating that Aliağa is an important industrial region for the Turkish economy, but the working conditions do not match this economic size, Güç said:

"We have many members of the press and members of parliament from abroad here. We all see the situation of this region. Aliağa is a region that contributes greatly to the Turkish economy. But when we look at the working conditions, we encounter an environment worse than third world countries. These are unplanned, complex industrial zones. We are trying to create added value in these regions. These places need to be put in order. The state needs to plan this place and ensure occupational safety. It is said that the factory was under maintenance when this accident happened. If it was under maintenance, why were so many people there? The factory was working during maintenance “Can you answer this?”

“FIRE BURNS WHERE IT FALLS”

Drawing attention to the pain experienced by the families left behind by the workers who lost their lives, Güç said that occupational murders cannot be seen as just statistics.

"We lost 18 people. We experienced this pain. I am a person of Aliağa, Bozköy. Those who lost their lives have spouses, friends, family, mothers and fathers. The fire burns where it falls. But it is the duty of the state to see this pain, internalize it and take precautions to prevent it from happening again. The duty of the state is to take these measures and make the capital owners make the necessary security expenditures. Unfortunately, we see that the state is not fulfilling its duty."

“THE FUNERAL PRAYER CANNOT BE POSSIBLE BY PRAYING AND LEAVING”

Stating that it is not enough for state officials to attend funerals after workplace murders, Güç stated that the future of the families should also be secured.

"This issue cannot be solved by attending the funeral and pretending to be sad in front of people. You must take responsibility. 50 or 100 people from the Ministry come, perform the funeral prayer, pretend to be sad and leave. So what will happen to those families? What will their future lives be like? We know these families, we are trying to take care of them. So what will the state do? Who will take care of these families? If we cannot take care of these people as the great State of the Republic of Turkey, it means that the government has lost its understanding of the state," said Güç.

“NO ONE RESIGNED, NO ONE TAKES RESPONSIBILITY”

Emphasizing that political and administrative responsible people should be held accountable after the disaster, Güç stated that the real responsible people cannot be reached by punishing only occupational safety experts.

Güç said, "One of the biggest work accidents ever occurred in Türkiye. There is no voice. There is no one to resign, no one takes responsibility. They will fine three or five occupational safety experts. Their families are also devastated. So who gave them orders? Who supported this capital? Who are these politicians? They are responsible. They have to answer for this. Someone needs to take responsibility and resign. What does the Ministry of Labor do? What does the Ministry of Environment do? Are there no people who will take responsibility in this country? Is no one upset? These people are just Does it remain a number? he said.

“WE WILL FOLLOW ALL CASES”

Stating that they will not allow the tragedy to be forgotten, Güç said that they will be with the families of the workers who lost their lives and will follow the legal processes closely.

Power said, "We will follow what happened. We declare here again that we will follow all the cases together with our friends in the commission. We will announce all the developments to the public. We will follow what the families are going through, what problems they are facing, and convey them to the public. We will not give up on this matter."

Emphasizing that they will continue to fight against occupational murders as the NEW Party, Güç said, "As the NEW Party, we will do all we can to fight as a party that has taken responsibility in Türkiye. We will hold them accountable for this when we come to power as soon as possible. As the people of this place, we will never forget this pain. We stand by the grieving families and will provide legal support."

TAŞCIER: “THIS DISASTER HAPPENED IN VIEW”

NEW Party Deputy Chairman Gamze Taşcıer, who visited the families of the workers who lost their lives after the explosion at the HABAŞ Iron and Steel Factory in Aliağa district of Izmir, reacted to the government by stating that workplace murders occurred due to lack of control and impunity.

Taşcıer said, "The only thing that has changed is the names of the workers who lost their lives and the addresses of the families who mourn them. The only thing that has not changed is the government that has been ruling this country for 24 years and has not taken any responsibility."

While reactions to the deaths of workers continued after the explosion at the HABAŞ Iron and Steel Factory in Aliağa district of Izmir, NEW Party Deputy Chairman Gamze Taşcıer made a statement after her condolence visits to the families of the workers who lost their lives.

Emphasizing that the disaster was preventable, Taşcıer drew attention to the inadequacy of occupational safety inspections, working conditions and impunity in workplace murders. Stating that the responsibility cannot be limited only to company managers, Taşcıer said that public officials who do not fulfill their audit duties should also be held accountable.

“EVERY FAMILY WE TOUCH IS ANOTHER DRAMA”

Stating that they visited the families of the workers who lost their lives together with the NEW Party deputies, Taşcıer said that they conveyed Chairman Özgür Özel's messages of solidarity and condolences to the families. Taşcıer said, "Today, we are here with our İzmir MPs Yüksel Taşkın, Ednan Arslan, Deniz Yücel, Şanlıurfa Deputy Mahmut Tanal and Muğla Deputy Cumhur Uzun to attend the burial ceremonies, share the pain of our families and convey the solidarity feelings of our Chairman Özgür Özel."

Drawing attention to the pain experienced by the families they visited, Taşcıer said, "Every family we touch is a different tragedy. Who has a two-year-old girl, or who started working just four days ago? As we say at every opportunity that other lives should not be hurt and other families' lungs should not be burned, we have to wake up every day with the death of another worker."

“ONLY THE NAMES OF THE DEAD CHANGED”

Arguing that the necessary steps were not taken to prevent occupational murders, Taşcıer said that the government did not take responsibility. Taşcıer said, "The only thing that has changed is the names of the workers who lost their lives, the addresses of the families who lamented for them, the sadness on the faces of the children and mothers waiting for their fathers and children. But the only thing that has not changed is the government that ruled this country for 24 years but did not take any responsibility, and made the workers pay the price of lack of control and impunity with their lives."

Stating that the representatives of the government made statements that they would be held accountable after the tragedies, but similar incidents continue, Taşcıer said, "They come and express their condolences and say that we will hold those responsible to account. They take those responsible into custody and release them through the back door. It has always been like this until today. I am sorry to say that as long as this government is in power, these murders will not be the last."

“THE COMPANY IS REPORTING ITSELF”

Taşcıer, who described the explosion at HABAŞ as a "work murder", argued that the disaster occurred despite foreseeable risks.

Pointing to the company's sustainability report, Taşcıer said, "Yes, it is murder. Because the disaster that happened here was obvious. Although the Minister said that he could not find anything tangible, I wish the bureaucrats had done their own work and looked at the sustainability report that the company reported itself to, instead of dealing with other things."

Stating that the report contains remarkable data regarding work accidents with serious injuries, occupational safety training and working hours, Taşcıer argued that even the company's own statements reveal the problems in working conditions. Taşcıer: "The company is reporting itself, Mr. Minister. Don't you see any of this?" He reacted to the authorities by saying.

“YOUR BUREAUCRATS MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TOO”

Stating that the responsibility in workplace murders cannot be limited only to employers, Taşcıer emphasized that control mechanisms should also be questioned. Taşcıer said, "Who are the bureaucrats who carried out these inspections? What deficiencies did they make here? Which inspections were not sufficient? While these workers are dying here, only those responsible here are not enough. We need to hold accountable your bureaucrats, who are collaborators of the murderers here, and first of all, yourself."

Calling on the relevant minister to resign, Taşcıer said, "If you have any conscience, you will not stay even a day in that position that you cannot manage. If there are so many workplace murders during your term of office, if so many grieving families are shedding tears, if you have any conscience, Mr. Minister, you should say that you cannot fulfill this duty and resign."

“IMPUNITY INVITS NEW TRADIES”

Taşcıer, who criticized the rejection of the proposals for a Parliamentary investigation into occupational murders by the AKP and MHP votes, reacted to the ruling MPs' defense that sanctions were imposed. Reminding the workplace murders that took place in different cities before, Taşcıer said that the release of those responsible in a short time deepened the problem of impunity.

Taşcıer, who also cited the case of a child who died while working as a Vocational Education Center (MESEM) student, as an example, criticized the fine given to the employer. Taşcıer said, "A person who was a child and worked while he was a MESEM student in Konya lost his life. The employer was released with a fine of 76 thousand liras, in installments. Is this the price of a child's life in this country? Under what conditions and with what difficulties are these children raised?" he said.

Stating that if lack of control and impunity continues, occupational murders will continue, Taşcıer said, "Unfortunately, as long as you do not carry out your inspections, avoid responsibility, and do not hold accountable, the only thing that will change will be the names, addresses and families of the dead."

“WHOEVER IS RESPONSIBLE WILL BE ACCOUNTABLE”

Stating that when they come to power, they will ensure that everyone responsible for workplace murders is held accountable before an independent judiciary, Taşcıer said, "No one should despair. There is no doubt that when we come to power, at the first opportunity, whoever is responsible for these incidents will be held accountable. We will not try to cover up the incident by saying 'No matter what happens' like them. We will not allow evasion of responsibility by sacrificing one or two people. Those who are truly responsible, the bureaucrat, the boss, the boss, will be held accountable before the independent judiciary."

Emphasizing that they will fight against the mentality that causes occupational murders, Taşcıer said, "In order to prevent these events from happening again, we will throw this understanding, this mentality into the dustbin of history, never to return again."

“WE WILL BE WITH THE GREAT FAMILIES”

Stating that, as NEW Party MPs, they will continue to provide legal and moral support to the families of the workers who lost their lives, Taşcıer said that they will follow the process.

Taşcıer said, "We will continue to share the pain of our grieving families and be with them in these difficult days. We will be with them both legally and morally by providing all kinds of support in their legal processes. We will not let this issue fall off the agenda. We will do our best to hold those responsible accountable at every opportunity."

Stating that they visited families at different points, especially in Menemen and Aliağa, Taşcıer concluded his statement with the words: "I wish patience to our grieving families, and God's mercy to our citizens and young people who lost their lives. I hope that this pain will not be experienced in this country again."

CALL FROM MAHMUT TANAL REGARDING THE HABAŞ DISASTER

Pointing out that there have been many work accidents in the factory before, Tanal said, "There have been nine accidents here before. We have a good saying in Anatolia: The arrival of Thursday is obvious from Wednesday. Work accidents happen all the time. Compensation is paid and the complaint is dropped."

Drawing attention to the economic power of the employer, Tanal said, "This employer is among the hundred richest employers in Türkiye. He has money, he pays compensation. However, the issue cannot be closed only by paying compensation."

“WE DO NOT WANT HALF JUSTICE”

Due to past accidents