Sedat Cezayirlioğlu, a prominent environmental activist known for campaigning against a gold mine in the eastern province of Erzincan (Erzîngan) that contains Turkey’s largest cyanide pool, has been detained by the authorities following a video he posted on social media.
In the video, Cezayirlioğlu expressed his outrage at the devastating landslide that trapped nine workers underground at the gold mine on Tuesday, describing the incident as “the world’s biggest disaster”.
The activist claimed that the landslide had released billions of tonnes of 39 different toxic chemicals and that the company was responsible for putting not only Turkey but the whole world at risk.
“Now it’s time for you to be held accountable,” Cezayirlioğlu said in the video.
The mine, which has been operated by Anagold Mining since 2010, is dangerously close to the Euphrates River, and the incident has sparked widespread fears of an environmental disaster, threatening the Euphrates and surrounding ecosystems with possible cyanide contamination.
Cezayirlioğlu, a long-time environmentalist from the region, went to the area after the collapse. The gendarmerie prevented him from entering the region and he was arrested on charges of “inciting the public to hatred and hostility”, Bianet reported.
There have been previous incidents linked to the mine, including a major cyanide spill in 2022. Cezayirlioğlu was the first to publicise the cyanide spill in İliç, saying that tonnes of cyanide-laced water were flowing into the river.
