Turkish police arrested many journalists who reported on the earthquake disaster, authorities say that journalists reported “fake news” when they interviewed survivors who complained about the slowness of rescue teams. At least 50,000 people were killed in the earthquakes that hit both Turkey and Syria
Journalist Mir Ali Kocher was 350 kilometers from the epicenter when Turkey was hit by a deadly earthquake on February 6. Grabbing his camera and microphone, he drove to the quake zone to interview survivors.
He posted stories of survivors and rescuers on Twitter and is now being investigated on suspicion of spreading fake news and could face up to three years in prison. He is one of four journalists being investigated for reporting on the earthquake.
Press freedom organizations claim that dozens of other journalists were arrested, and some were banned from publishing news. At least 50,000 people were killed in the earthquakes that hit both Turkey and Syria.
Kocher interviewed rescue teams and rescuers who came from western Turkey, and he posted their stories on Twitter. Some of the survivors told him they had not received help for days. Similar complaints were cited in pro-opposition media.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited the earthquake affected areas and told the people that he would rebuild their cities. But he also warned that those spreading “fake news” and “causing social chaos” would be prosecuted, calling them “provocateurs”.
Kocher told the BBC that while he was reporting from the earthquake-hit area, Diyarbakır police left a note at his apartment instructing him to visit the police station and make a statement. Kocher said he was meticulous in his work and interviewed all parties, from survivors to police and rescue workers. “I did not share information without thorough research and analysis,” he said.
The number of other journalists being investigated is unclear. At the end of the week, the police said that they arrested 134 people on the background of “provocative posts” whose identities were not disclosed.