'State cannot escape responsibility by blaming contractors and targeting refugees' 

2023-02-16 13:03:06


	 

	İSTANBUL - Stating that they tried to prevent the reactions against those responsible with hate speech against refugees in the earthquake region, the lawyers stated that the crimes related to the buildings were tried to be placed only on the contractors.

	 

	So far, 35 thousand 418 people have lost their lives in the earthquakes of 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude that occurred in Maraş center on February 6, tens of thousands of them are injured and are still waiting to be rescued under the rubble. In a statement, the Migration Administration said that in Maraş, Hatay, Malatya, Adıyaman, Adana, Gaziantep, Urfa, Kilis, Osmaniye and Diyarbakır, which were affected by the earthquake, approximately 2 million refugees reside under international protection and temporary protection, but there is no public opinion on how many refugees lost their lives in the region. No information was shared.

	 

	While trying to heal the wounds with the support of the people after the earthquake, the perception that Victory Party Chairperson Ümit Özdağ initiated through "looting" put the life safety of refugees in the region at risk. While armed racist groups were growing in the region, Syrian Ahmet Güreşçi, who was alleged to have looted in Hatay and was taken into custody in the raid on his house on February 11 and taken to Altınözü Gendarmerie Station, died as a result of the torture he was subjected to.

	 

	Lawyer Fatih Aydın, a member of the Contemporary Lawyers Association (ÇHD), who follows the cases of violence and torture to which refugees are subjected, and lawyer Ahmet Baran Çelik, member of the Lawyers' Association for Freedom (ÖHD), stated that the events started with the targeting of some political parties.

	 

	"STATE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CHAOS"

	 

	Stating that they went to the region on the first day of the earthquake and struggled to find those responsible, Aydın said that an atmosphere of chaos was created in the region with violence and hate speech afterwards. Only contractors are shown as responsible. This is not true. The state has a responsibility in the first place for not taking the necessary measures for years. This crime is being tried to fall on the backs of the contractors. But this is a multidimensional situation. From whom did these contractors get permission? Which zoning directorates allowed these cities to be built. How did the zoning amnesties come out? They are the main ones responsible.”

	 

	THE TORTURE OF POLICE AND SOLDIER 

	 

	Stating that refugees were suddenly turned into a target with the earthquake, Aydın said: “People who went to the region to hunt people and did not know what it was, who sent it or for what purpose, started targeting people on the street because of being Syrian. This situation, which started with hate speech, later turned into violence practices and lynching attempts. Refugees were lynched by extrajudicial killings with the rhetoric "a person is a looter" without confirmation. Footage of this also emerged. Chaos reigns in the region at the moment. The footage we watch tells us how much the law enforcement officers provide security. It was reflected in the images that the police did not interfere with the lynching attempts. There are people in police vests around in the video where 3-4 people are seen dead on the ground. But it does not interfere. For this reason, our opinion on whether the law enforcement has taken precautions; they are inadequate and overlooked. As it is reflected to the public, there are cases of torture, violence and alleged deaths involving many people from public and law enforcement duties. We are following these files.”

	 

	MA / Mehmet Aslan