On 20 July 2015, ISIS carried out a suicide bomb attack in Suruç, in the province of Urfa. Thirty-three young people lost their lives and more than 100 were wounded in the explosion.

Led by the Federation of Socialist Youth Associations (SGDF), the young people had gathered at the Amara Cultural Center as part of a campaign to bring toys and aid to children in Kobanê. 

The trial

The only defendant who was under arrest in the Suruç massacre case has been sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment 34 times, as well as 1,890 years in prison.

The 21st and final hearing of the case was held on 22 October  2022 at the Urfa 5th Heavy Penal Court.

The court sentenced Yakup Şahin to aggravated life imprisonment 34 times for "attempting to overthrow the constitutional order," "being a member of an armed terrorist organization," "murder by premeditation or bombing."

The defendant was separately sentenced to 1,890 years in prison for attempting to commit this crime. He was also sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined 40,000 lira for possessing explosives.

The court also ruled that the fugitive defendants İlhami Bali and Deniz Büyükçelebi should be separated.