Zehra Kınık Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison

If you’ve been scrolling through social media in the last few months, you must have heard about Zehra Kınık. She was involved in a car accident on July 9th, which resulted in the 17-year-old Batın Barlasçeki’s death and three others’ injuries.

This news specifically caught the public’s attention because of Kınık’s family background; her dad is the former Kızılay president, Kerem Kınık. He raised significant controversy after the 2023 earthquake in Türkiye since he sold tents to earthquake victims instead of donating them. Metaphorically speaking, Zehra Kınık’s accident was “the cherry on top.” The public has since been shaming both of them online, stating, “like dad, like daughter.”

On another note, it is important to draw attention to the widespread misinformation around this topic. For example, two out of three X users from Üsküdar American Academy have stated that they thought Kınık was involved in several accidents since they had seen critiques about this on social media. However, when asked to find these tweets and search for Zehra Kınık online, they weren’t able to find any evidence supporting their claim.

Contrary to many witness and police reports, many individuals seem to believe that Kınık was involved in three or more car accidents. However, this is an example of the media’s exaggeration. There were two official car accidents where Kınık was responsible of the damage, one of which resulted in someone’s death.

Following the accident, Kınık was taken into custody but was released by the court after one day. In the first hearing, the court lifted the judicial control order against her. Subsequently, the indictment requested a prison sentence of 2 to 15 years for Kınık on charges of "causing death and injury by negligence." The initial expert report prepared in August stated that Kınık entered the main road without heeding the 'STOP' sign and was found 100% at fault.

According to a report by İsmail Arı from BirGün, the Barlasçeki family stated that defendant Kınık offered them money. Barlasçeki's aunt, Kübra Doğan, expressed in a statement that the other side attempted to settle the lawsuit process by offering moral compensation. Doğan said, "We have been fighting for justice for 9 months. Kınık was found 100% at fault multiple times, yet she has received no punishment.

As if this wasn’t enough, she was involved in another accident, recklessly believing that her status would give her a way out of this, too. Now, her lawyer has contacted our lawyer to propose moral compensation and stated that they want to settle. We want justice, not negotiation. My sister lost her child; her life has been destroyed. This pain cannot be measured by money."

This statement was given following Kınık’s alleged second accident on February 3, 2025. The license plate of the vehicle from this accident was 34 FKJ 390, which is owned by the Kınık family. Witnesses reported seeing Zehra Kınık driving the car, but it still hasn’t been proven.

The case of Zehra Kınık exemplifies the complex interplay between social media influence, public opinion, and the pursuit of justice amid a tragic event. While initial online outrage was fueled by memes and misinformation, official reports and witness testimonies confirm her responsibility in causing the death of Batın Barlasçeki. Despite her detention and legal proceedings, the family's persistent call for true justice highlights the profound pain and frustration stemming from perceived leniency and ongoing concerns regarding accountability.

The court sentenced Kınık to 4 years and 2 months in prison and decided to revoke her driving license for two years. This sentence also accounted for the defendant's violation of the caution and care required by traffic regulations, as well as negligent homicide.

The panel sentenced the defendant Öztürk to 1 year, 1 month, and 10 days in prison for the crime of causing the death of one person through negligence, as he wasn’t wearing a helmet.

Edited by: Melisa Altıntaş