Arıklı visits relatives of those missing after ferry sinking for the first time in 14 days

Former Minister of Infrastructure and Transport of the TRNC Erhan Arıklı visited the relatives of people missing after the sinking of the Filo Jet ferry on September 12, for the first time in 14 days. Some of those gathered at the port met him with sharp reproaches, while others responded with understanding.

Arıklı wrote about the visit on his social media accounts. According to him, he read the Quran together with the families: “By reading our Quran, we shared their pain, at least to some extent.” He called the reaction of some of the relatives justified.

Addressing the families, Arıklı repeated what he had previously said in parliament: the authorities of Turkey and the TRNC are conducting a comprehensive investigation into the disaster, and those responsible will sooner or later stand trial. “If I am also to blame for this accident, I will not evade responsibility before the law,” he said.

He also urged the relatives not to allow their grief to be used for political purposes. “Having reported to the people with documents in parliament, I considered it right to be by your side today,” Arıklı wrote.

The ferry sank off Kyrenia on August 30, and some of the passengers are still listed as missing. On September 11, changes to the composition of the government were published in the official gazette: Faiz Sucuoğlu was appointed Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, while Arıklı left office. Shortly before that, the Assembly of the TRNC read out a motion calling for his dismissal.