Hatay is one of the cities hit by the 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes on February 6. In the city, where Syrian refugees and the Arab Alevi population predominantly live, soldiers and policemen subject earthquake victims to violence and torture the citizens, blaming them for looting.

In a video sent by volunteers of the HDP Crisis Coordination, a refugee living in Hatay talks about the violence he was subjected to. The refugee, whose face and eyes are swollen, says: “On the day of the incident, a team from China carried out search and rescue operations with devices in the building debris. There were also press workers. Rescuers identified signs of life under the rubble. I have two children trapped under the building where rescue efforts have taken place. The team needs a digger or crane to continue. The soldiers here used violence against me when I voiced these demands. My two children are still trapped under the rubble.”