Turkey shields elite from earthquake responsibility

An investigative report by The New Arab (TNA) has shed light on the criminal investigations surrounding the construction of private residential buildings that displayed poor seismic resistance during the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake. The report, compiled over the course of a year, reveals patterns of negligence and corruption in the construction process.

TNA’s investigation was conducted through extensive research and interviews with lawyers, engineers, architects, family victims, employees of building inspection companies, and associations across the region. The information provided by these sources has been verified through judicial documents from criminal investigations, with a particular focus on the provinces of Hatay and Gaziantep.

According to the report, there is a concerning pattern of impunity and irregularities in the judicial proceedings related to these incidents. Turkish authorities have largely failed to prosecute, and in some cases, even properly investigate, public officials and administrations for their responsibilities. The report found that in most cases where public officials were indicted, their dossiers were separated and authorization for prosecution remained indefinitely on hold, pending higher approval. It was also discovered that stalled proceedings only apply to low-ranking officials, while there is no evidence of high-ranking public officials being under investigation.

The full report can be accessed here.

For media inquiries, please contact Andrea Glioti, TNA’s Investigative Editor, at andrea.glioti@newarab.com.

This report was distributed by https://pressat.co.uk/.