The Court of Appeals upheld the 40-time aggravated life sentence and 1,368-year prison sentence given to defendant Abdulkadir Masharipov for his terrorist attack in the Reina night club in Ortaköy on New Year's Eve, finding it lawful. The chamber also upheld the prison sentences of varying degrees given to the other 46 defendants.

The 27th Criminal Chamber of the Istanbul Regional Court of Justice reviewed the decision of the local court in the Reina Case on file. The chamber found the decisions of the local court to be in accordance with procedure and law and upheld the sentences of 47 defendants, including Abdulkadir Masharipov.

Background of the case

39 people lost their lives and 79 people were injured in the terrorist attack on the Reina night club in Ortaköy on New Year's Eve in 2017. The trial of 59 defendants, including Abdulkadir Masharipov (36), who was shown as the number one suspect in the case, was concluded on September 7, 2020. The Istanbul 27th High Criminal Court ruled that Masharipov, who carried out the attack, be sentenced to 40 terms of aggravated life imprisonment for the crimes of "attempting to overthrow the constitutional order" and "deliberately killing 39 people", including police officer Burak Yıldız.

The court also sentenced Masharipov to 1,368 years in prison for the crime of "premeditatedly attempting to kill 79 people" and a fine of 375 thousand liras for the crime of "carrying an unlicensed weapon of a grave nature". In addition, the panel decided not to apply a reduction in the sentence because Masharipov's behavior after the crime was committed and during the trial phase did not consider the impact of the sentence he committed on his future, and he displayed attitudes and behaviors that did not recognize the court. The panel ruled that Ilyas Mamasharipov, who was alleged to have planned the attack, be sentenced to a total of 1,432 years in prison for "aiding in the violation of the constitution," "aiding in the premeditated murder of 39 people," and "aiding in the attempted premeditated murder of 79 people."

In addition, the panel sentenced 46 defendants, including Abdulkadir Masharipov's legally married wife Zarina Nurullayeva and Yasser Mohammed Salem Radown, codenamed "Abu Jihad," who allegedly gave the orders for the attack, to prison terms ranging from 6 years and 3 months to 12 years each for "being a member of a terrorist organization."

The court also ruled to acquit 11 defendants of all charges separately, while deciding to separate the file of 1 defendant.