Lawyers' Solidarity in Earthquake on acts of violence in earthquake-hit areas

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Lawyers Solidarity in Earthquake, an initiative started by lawyers, issued a written statement on the acts of violence observed in the earthquake-hit areas.

The statement titled "Stop any torturing or lynching" says, "Tens of torturing, ill-treatment, and lynching images are shared on social media and news portals which may cause just as much devastation as the earthquake itself."

Lawyers Solidarity in Earthquake called for illegal and inhuman acts towards individuals who are accused of looting or robbery to be stopped immediately.

"The basic rights should be protected by the authorities, starting with the right to life, and also the presumption of innocence, the right to a good reputation, and the right to defense, and such individual events should be treated within the framework of law and reason.

"The public officials and others who are present in such images should be identified and judicial and administrative investigations should be started at once; taking a firm stance against any torture or ill-treatment," says the statement. 

Allegations of looting and death in custody

Ahmet Güreşçi, one of the two brothers taken from their house in Büyükburç, Hatay, and by the gendarme, lost his life while in custody, it was revealed today (February 13). Güreşçi's brother was detained on charges of robbery and he was also taken into custody when he objected to the gendarme taking his brother into custody.

Some people have made allegations of looting and robbery in the earthquake-hit areas and some images were shared on social media showing some such cases following the deadly February 6 earthquakes that caused over 30 thousand deaths in 10 cities and vast destruction in Türkiye.

Ümit Özdağ, the president of the far-right Zafer Party known for his hostile rhetoric against Syrian refugees in Türkiye, shared videos from the region since the first day of the earthquake and also some showing cases of looting and robbery.

In one such post, Özdağ accused a man seen in a video during rescue efforts in a tweet, named him "a Syrian thief" and accused him of stealing the mobile phone of a firefighting crew member.

The Urfa Governorship refuted Özdağ's claim, informing that the person in question was a citizen of Türkiye, was participating as a volunteer in the rescue works, and that no cell phone was stolen.

Özdağ deleted his tweet later but refused to apologize.

"Put on your gloves and help"

A rescuer raised his voice and told Özdağ today to put on his gloves and to help instead of talking this way. 

"While all the world is here, helping us, we are fed up with hearing about either Muslims or Christians or Syrians here. We do not want to hear. Please put on your gloves," the rescuer told Özdağ. (AS/PE)