Amid devastating wildfires, probe launched into 'Help Turkey' social media posts

Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has launched a probe into social media posts that asked for foreign help amid the devastating forest fires.

Thursday August 05 2021 11:56 am

Duvar English

The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has launched a probe into social media posts that asked for foreign help in the face of the devastating forest fires.

Over 2.6 million tweets were shared with the hashtag "Help Turkey" following the fires mainly due to desperation and anger since the government failed to put them out.

According to the prosecutor's office, some social media accounts and media outlets "tried to create panic, fear and concern among the public" by using the hashtag. It also claimed that some accounts tried to humiliate the Turkish state and the government.

"It was determined that social media users with sensitivity towards the issue were provoked for an environment of chaos to be created," it said, adding that some of the accounts made "terrorism propaganda" in the past.

The suspects are accused of "insulting a public employee," "insulting the president," insulting the government and the state," "creating concern, fear and panic among the public" and "inciting hatred and enmity."

The fires, now on their ninth day, revealed that Turkey doesn't have any firefighting planes, prompting people to ask for other countries to send them since the government rejected offers for help.

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its trolls on Twitter were quick to brand the people's cry for help as an attempt to make the country look weak.

Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun used the hashtag "Strong Türkiye" to counter those asking for help, but the number of tweets shared remained significantly less.

Following backlash, the government changed its stance on foreign aid and said that Ankara would "of course" accept help from other countries.