Turkish authorities have arrested 64 people accused of “making provocative comments” on social media in connection with the two earthquakes that struck the southeast of the country a week ago and caused at least 32,000 deaths.
Of these 64 defendants, 17 have already been interned in penal institutions, according to Turkish security authorities, who also reported that the administrators of 531 social media accounts where the comments were made were identified.
Turkish media reported that those arrested include people who gave false information on social media, including a person who fabricated that three buildings in Sanliurfa had collapsed after the aftershocks of the earthquakes last week.
On Turkish social networks, many citizens complained after the earthquake about the lack of help and the delay of the rescue teams.
Last October, Turkey passed a controversial disinformation law that punishes the dissemination of “fake news” with penalties of up to three years in prison.
This law was quickly criticized by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), as well as by several international NGOs, alleging that it has vague definitions and that it can lead to “arbitrary and politically motivated actions, at the expense of freedom expression”. expression”.
Turkish authorities also announced that they had shut down 46 websites, alleging that they were using fraudulent means to ask citizens for help, including requests for money by imitating the name of official institutions.
Source: TSF
