Humanitarian aid being delivered at the time of the powerful earthquake which occurred in Van in October 2011, have been considered as a crime in the indictement prepared against 10 local associations in Van province. 

Chief prosecutor Canip Cihangir has requested the closure of ten associations, including women and Kurdish associations, arguing that they had links with the PKK. The lawsuit comes just after the approval of the  "Preventing Financing Terrorism Law", which commentators said is aimed at Kurdish businessmen. The Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) dubbed this law "genocide law". The law was approved by the President of the Republic, Abdullah Gül.

Van Court has accepted the indictment against the ten local associations: among the 'evidences' of 'crime', distributing nappies and humanitarian aid are listed.