Global Courant 2023-05-19 17:05:48
As the results of Turkey’s presidential election trickled in, many opposition supporters took to social media to express their anger, particularly targeting voters living in areas devastated by February’s earthquakes.
Sunday’s election ended with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan receiving 49.5 percent of the vote and his main challenger, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, receiving 44.9 percent.
The majority of voters in eight of the eleven earthquake-hit cities voted for Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AK Party), while the other three cities favored Kilicdaroglu’s Republican People’s Party (CHP).
In the aftermath of the earthquakes, Erdogan’s government was criticized for its slow response to the disaster and lax enforcement of building codes. Three months later, the president’s critics couldn’t understand why earthquake survivors would support Erdogan at the polls. Many used Twitter to insult these voters.
Gidenlere bişey demiyorum ama deprem bölgesinde geriye kalanların Allah belasını versin…. Onların yerine insanlığımızdan utanıyoruz
— İlhan Cetin (@lhaneti95314134) May 14, 2023
Translation: “I say nothing to those who left, but to those who remained in the earthquake zone, may God damn you … We are ashamed of our humanity in their place.”
Ulan of kadar rezillik cektik depremden sonra vermezler ya bu kadarini da yapmazlar dedim yaptilar daha enkazda olan cesetlerin ahinda bogulun
— Ebrr#kemaldedesinintorunu (@ebrrm_) May 14, 2023
Translation: “We suffered so much embarrassment after the earthquake. I said they couldn’t have given it, they wouldn’t have done this, but they did. May you drown in the cries of the dead who still lie beneath the rubble.”
Thousands tweeted comments full of verbal attacks and threats against voters living in the earthquake zone.
Deprem bölgesinden Erdoğan’a
71% o..?
— ‘Bodur & Adalet.’ (@Adalet82_82) May 14, 2023
Translation: “71 percent vote for Erdogan from earthquake zone..?
“You Burn Urfa, I Will Burn Antep”
“OK”
Due to the election results, some users stated that they would no longer send aid to earthquake survivors.
There is a high probability that there is a high probability of 3 major monetary losses to improve the world of AKP artists ben yokum.
— Sinem Ok Yildirim (@ok_yildirim) May 14, 2023
Translation: “I’m sorry, but this was the last. Whatever happens, after this I will not help in any disaster. I cried for days. If they forget that the government came 3 days later, that Kizilay sold tents and still trust the AKP, then I’m done.”
İnanamıyorum gerçekten. Çoğuna üzülmeyeceğim artık. Depremden beri kendimi parçaladım birşeyler yapabilmek için, hasta oldum üzüntüden. Gitsinler akp den yardım istesinler, do it yourself
— Doctor Sapiens (@PforpHD) May 14, 2023
Translation: “I really can’t believe this. I won’t be sad for most of them anymore. I’ve been so straining to do anything since the earthquake, I was sick with grief. They can go ask the AKP for help, there is nothing to say.”
Government response
Istanbul’s chief prosecutor announced it has opened an investigation into individuals who posted “provocative messages” and “created inhumane rhetoric” towards earthquake survivors, Anadolu news agency reported.
The promises to stop sending aid to the earthquake zone have already been translated into action. According to Melike Hatipoglu, who said she has been personally organizing aid since the first day of the earthquakes, many people have stopped providing financial support to the victims.
“I don’t think my heart can handle everything I’ve been through these past three days. Aid for 174 orphans has been stopped. Nearly 2,000 boxes of supplies have been canceled. People asked (for me to give) back the furniture they donated to the homeless. She forbade helping children, the disabled and the elderly. I’ll let you all comment.”
Desteğiniz için teşekkür ederiz Kıymetli ağabey
— Melike Hatipoğlu (@melikehtp) May 16, 2023
The backlash has also spilled over into the government. On Tuesday, the Tekirdag Metropolitan Municipality announced it ended its temporary housing for earthquake survivors.
CHP’li Tekirdağ Belediyesi Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu’na oy çıkmayan deprem bölgelerini faturasını depremzedelere kesti.
There are several ways in which you can express your opinion.
Depremzedeler, “Deprem bölgesi AK Parti’ye verdi diye bize bunu mu reva ediyorsunuz?”… pic.twitter.com/FftLpy2IUc
— Yekvucut (@yekvucutcom) May 16, 2023
Translation: “CHP Tekirdag Municipality punished the victims of the earthquake because Kemal Kilicdaroglu could not get enough votes from the earthquake zone.
“They tried to evict civilians who were transferred to hotels in Kumbag.
“The earthquake victims said, ‘This is what you think we’re worth because the earthquake zone voted for the AK party?'”
After the public outcry, the Governor of Tekirdag and the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority intervened said they will continue to provide shelter for the earthquake victims.
In response to the barrage of insults from opposition supporters on social media, videos and photos are circulating on social media of earthquake survivors returning aid they received from CHP municipalities.
In a video, a victim from Elbistan in Kahramanmaras province, the epicenter of the earthquakes, said he is returning the free fertilizer he received from the CHP-run municipality of Ankara.
Elbistan’da or depremzede, uğradıkları hakaretlerden sonra CHP’li Ankara Büyükşehir Belediye’sinin kendilerine verdiği gübreyi Kahramanmaraş CHP Elbistan İlçe Başkanlığı’na yade etti.
“Biz bu gübreyi kullanacak kadar onursuz ve gurursuz değiliz.” pic.twitter.com/KLmJK0eY0W
— HURMA (@HurmaEdit) May 17, 2023
Translation: “The Nation Alliance has made no statements condemning (the insults). We are not proud or dishonorable enough to use this fertilizer.”
Another victim shared with Environment and Urbanization Minister Murat Kurum that he brought a free bottle of water from an Ankara Municipality booth during the earthquake.
Benim de kanıma çok dokundu, güzel kardeşim.
Ama hiç üzülme, biz varız.
Sozümüzü tutacağız! pic.twitter.com/yN598V6tEe
— Murat KURUM (@murat_kurum) May 17, 2023
Translation: “I have returned the money for (the water) to Kemal Kilicdaroglu’s bank account. It was 2.50 lira (13 cents).”
Many social media users have condemned the backlash against earthquake survivors and called on others to continue to donate and provide support.
Birrica,
It is best to use a güzel cevap iyilik olacaktır. Hangisine guveniyorsanız…
● DEPREM Yazıp 1866’ya (AFAD 50₺)
● DEPREM – 3072′ yes; (İHH 10₺)
●AFET–2868; (Kızılay 15₺)
● Ahbap TR120006400000110211380059
● Umuda Koşanlar TR79 0001 0026 4584 1389 1150 11
— Erhan Idiz (@idizerhan) May 16, 2023
Translation: “A request, the best answer is to give to those who have lost their humanity. Whichever you trust…”
Japaniz. Zira insanının siyasi kararların üstünde olduğunu biliriz. Depremzede çocuklara, annesini kaybetmiş can remove the gels from most iletiriz. There are several ways you can use your devices to program your gardening program.
— Hatice Acar (@haticeacar626) May 14, 2023
Translation: “If we do not like the result of democracy, the action to be taken to increase constructive criticism is to improve the opposition. However, it poses no threat to those affected by the tragedy. Just as this country raised us, we will continue to help its children unconditionally.
“We will. Because we know that human life is above political decisions. We express our continued support to earthquake survivors and young people who have lost their mothers. In the second round, whether my heart is filled or not, I will organize personally a new utility.”
Erdogan’s response
Ahead of the general election, both Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu campaigned in the earthquake-ravaged cities. Members and leaders of their coalitions also held rallies and visited the area.
In a tweet, Erdogan denounced the negative reactions on social media.
“We are witnessing attacks that are incompatible with human values because of this mindset because they could not get votes from our citizens. These circles display all kinds of unscrupulousness, from stopping the aid they send to the earthquake zone to evicting earthquake victims from hotels.”
It is possible that Cumhur İttifakı’nın zaferiyle sonuçlanması, Cumhurbaşiminde de açık ara bir farkın ortaya çıkması; CHP Genel Başkanı’nın ve yönetiminin dengesini iyice bozdu.…
— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) May 18, 2023
