Just four years in prison for killing little Aylan: Human traffickers responsible for tragedy which shocked the world receive light sentence after they are CLEARED of negligence

  • Two Syrian people smugglers escape negligence charges for boat tragedy
  • Aylan Kurdi, 3, was among those who died when the refugee ship capsized
  • They will serve just four years in prison on human trafficking convictions

By Corey Charlton for MailOnline

Published: 05:04 EST, 4 March 2016 | Updated: 14:08 EST, 4 March 2016

A pair of Syrian people smugglers have been cleared of negligence charges and will serve just four years in prison for the death of three-year-old Aylan Kurdi.

The youngster and four others - including his brother and mother - drowned last year when their boat capsized during the ill-fated journey from Bodrum to the Greek island of Kos.

The image of the boy's lifeless body lying face down on a Turkish beach galvanized world attention on the refugee crisis, graphically illustrating the magnitude of the migrants' suffering.

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The image of the boy's lifeless body lying face down on a Turkish beach galvanized world attention on the refugee crisis

The image of the boy's lifeless body lying face down on a Turkish beach galvanized world attention on the refugee crisis

Asem Alfrhad (top left) and Muwafaka Alabash (centre) were found guilty of human trafficking but cleared of negligence charges, meaning they will serve just four years and two months in prison

Asem Alfrhad (top left) and Muwafaka Alabash (centre) were found guilty of human trafficking but cleared of negligence charges, meaning they will serve just four years and two months in prison

According to Turkish state-run media, a court acquitted the two men of the charge of causing the deaths through deliberate negligence.

The pair will serve just four years and two months in prison each after being found guilty of human trafficking.

The defendants, Syrian nationals Muwafaka Alabash and Asem Alfrhad, had denied any responsibility in the migrants' deaths.

Instead, they blamed Aylan's father, Abdullah Kurdi, for the deaths - accusing him of organizing the trip. Prosecutors had sought maximum 35 years in prison for each.

Abdullah Kurdi has since returned to Syria.

Trials in Turkey usually take months - even years - to conclude, but the verdict, which came just a month after the trial opened, appeared to be an effort by the country to show that it is cracking down on human traffickers.

Turkey is under pressure to reduce the tide of migrants to Europe and to combat the smuggling rings since it reached a deal with the EU in November.

Under the deal, Turkey is scheduled to receive a 3 billion euro fund to help the country deal with Syrian refugees.

The photo of little Aylan (pictured), his red shirt bunched up over his waste, inspired an outpouring of sympathy for the refugees fleeing the bloodbath of Syria

The photo of little Aylan (pictured), his red shirt bunched up over his waste, inspired an outpouring of sympathy for the refugees fleeing the bloodbath of Syria 

Galip Kurdi, 5, and Aylan Kurdi, 3, both of whom died in the tragedy, pictured with their father Abdullah

Galip Kurdi, 5, and Aylan Kurdi, 3, both of whom died in the tragedy, pictured with their father Abdullah

Mr Kurdi, pictured after a visit to the morgue to see his deceased wife and children, has since returned to Syria

Mr Kurdi, pictured after a visit to the morgue to see his deceased wife and children, has since returned to Syria

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