Almost 100 arrests for looting in disaster area Turkey

EPA

Destruction in the Turkish city of Nurdagi

NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 04:52

In Turkey, 97 people were arrested last week for looting in the area affected by the earthquakes. According to the state news agency Anadolu, they are suspected of involvement in 232 incidents in eleven affected provinces.

President Erdogan already lashed out at looters when he visited the disaster area last week. He said the state would deal with them firmly.

Part of that approach is a decree that extends the powers of prosecutors. People suspected of looting can now be detained for a week, instead of four days.

The human rights organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) is concerned. According to HRW’s representative in Turkey, there are signs that suspects of looting are being mistreated.

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