The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) penalized TV channels TELE1, Halk TV and Fox TV with monetary fines and a broadcast ban over their coverage of the earthquake that devastated parts of southern and southeastern Turkey and parts of Syria on 6 February. 340 internet sites of the Kurdish media also received access bans.

Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Muş MP Şevin Coşkun said that RTÜK’s penalties resulted from the government's desire to hide the truth. She stated that the censorship bill approved in the parliament is used by the government to crackdown on the opposition, underlining that the destruction caused by the government cannot be swept under the carpet.

RIGHT TO LIFE VIOLATED

Coşkun remarked that the Turkish state's attempt to limit internet bandwidth right after the earthquake is a violation of the right to life. She said: “The government seeks to block journalism activities whenever it is cornered. However, preventing communication during disasters and narrowing the internet bandwidth is a violation of the right to life. People trapped under the rubble could report their location to relevant institutions and their relatives before their phones run out of charge.”

GOVERNMENT SEEKS TO BLOCK MEDIA COVERAGE

Coşkun noted that she and her party went to Adıyaman to help survivors on the first day of the magnitude 7.8 and 7.7 earthquakes on 6 February, but there was no internet there. She continued: “People could not get reliable information about their relatives and those trapped under the rubble could not make their voices heard to ask for help. While providing communication service properly is of vital importance in such cases, unfortunately, under the guise of 'fighting disinformation', the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) narrowed the bandwidth on Twitter, a commutation tool by which information is circulated as fast as possible. Moreover, many journalists were prevented from practicing their profession in the earthquake-hit cities. In the first three days of the earthquake, survivors were asking "Where is the state?" Search and rescue teams affiliated to state-run AFAD and UMKE were not dispatched to the field on time. Most people under the rubble froze to death. Even water and food did not reach the earthquake victims, who were waiting under freezing temperatures to save their relatives, and solidarity among people was prevented by the government. The government resorted to censorship easily to cover up the negligence and public reaction against the government. The government first prevents journalism activities in times of crisis.”

DESTRUCTION CANNOT BE CONCEALED

Coşkun pointed out that: “The government did not step into action for the first 3 days and cracked down on the press workers and broadcasting organizations who conveyed social solidarity. However, the censorship and intimidation introduced by RTÜK and BTK have been rendered futile through public sensitivity and solidarity and the destruction caused by the government cannot be concealed.”

TRUTH WILL BE REVEALED

Coşkun concluded: “It is obvious that the censorship law was introduced to keep the government in power. Because the government needed a tool to deal with any unpredictable situation before the elections. The Zoning Amnesty which caused great destruction during the earthquake, buildings that were constructed over swamps and agricultural lands, the collapse of bridges and highways are just a few examples. Another example is the ban on the internet after the Istiklal Street attack on 13 November, 2022. The government is troubled with the solidarity networks formed by the call of our party in 10 cities and the services provided by our municipalities which have not been usurped by trustees. It is not possible to cover up the truth and prevent the struggle of journalists who write the truth through the censorship law. Whatever the cost, the truth will be revealed.”