Several human rights organizations on Friday demanded the lifting of the three-month state of emergency declared Monday by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the quake-hit provinces, claiming it could be used against civil society.
“It is unnecessary, disproportionate in cost and gives the president additional powers that can be directed against civil society and any criticism of crisis management”refer in a joint statement to three non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that defend and promote human rights, including the World Organization against Torture (OMCT).
In the information note, which is also signed by the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) and the Association of Human Rights (IHD), the three NGOs guarantee that Turkey has different laws to respond to emergency situations, “more proportionate and in line with international standards”.
According to NGOs the state of emergency declared by Erdogan the day after Monday’s earthquakes “could limit movements and communications in the affected cities” and provides prison sentences for people “only for publishing false or exaggerated rumors or news that attempts to create panic”.
In the document, the NGOs denounce that there have already been cases in the affected areas of journalists detained for “unauthorized recording” of rescue operations, pressure from authorities on survivors not to speak to the press, and threats. to reporters and specialists for criticizing the authorities’ response to the earthquakes, which also hit northwestern Syria.
The state of emergency may also hamper humanitarian and rescue operations.the three organizations warned, at a time when Turkish authorities are “politicizing” the response, for example by preventing “opposition political forces from participating in joint relief efforts”.
The state of emergency, which affects 10 Turkish provinces, “occurs in a context of declining rule of law, in which social space is shrinking (…), in which human rights violations and intimidation of activists, journalists and dissidents are on the rise,” the three organizations said.
Turkey’s Disaster Management Agency indicated that the deaths of about 19,400 people have been confirmed on Turkey’s territory, in addition to 77,000 injured. About 3,300 deaths have been confirmed in Syria, bringing the total death toll to more than 22,000.
According to an opposition official in Syria, the bodies of 700 Syrians who died in Turkey will be repatriated for burial in their country.
Source: DN
