Criminal Cases Opened Against 3 Journalists in Turkey for Earthquake-Related Publications

Freelance journalist Mir Ali Kocher, who traveled to the affected areas in Turkey following the devastating earthquake and shared stories of survivors and rescuers on Twitter, is now being investigated for allegedly spreading "fake news," which could result in up to three years in prison. This information was reported by Armenpress, citing the BBC.

Kocher is at least one of four journalists under investigation for reporting or commenting on news related to the earthquake. He is of Kurdish descent and contributes to opposition websites. On the night of the earthquake, he was in Diyarbakir. He has traveled to Gaziantep by car and witnessed the destruction and casualties in cities near the epicenter of the quake.

“When I picked up the microphone, whether behind the camera or in front of it, I couldn’t hold back my tears,” Kocher recounted. He was moved by the influx of volunteers and rescue teams from Western Turkey and shared stories about them on Twitter.

During his visit to the earthquake-affected regions, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told the public that they would rebuild their cities but also warned that those who spread "fake news" and create "social chaos" would face criminal liability. The president referred to them as provocateurs.

A new law in Turkey was adopted in October, criminalizing the public dissemination of misinformation and granting the state much broader powers to control news websites and social media. The Venice Commission, which acts as the legal watchdog of the Council of Europe, stated that the law would hinder freedom of speech. Opposition parties have labeled it a "censorship law."

Police have interrogated Kocher regarding the information he shared about the earthquake's epicenter, accusing him of disseminating false information. The organization Reporters Without Borders has called the investigation against Kocher "absurd" and urged authorities to cease it.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, at least three other journalists are facing criminal cases. Two of them criticized the government’s rescue efforts. The other was arrested on suspicion of "inciting hatred" for interviewing a volunteer who criticized the government's rescue efforts; he was later released.