On Friday, Human Rights Watch (HRW) called for the Turkish government to ensure accountability for public officials linked to the collapse of numerous buildings in the earthquakes on 6 February 2023.
The organisation stressed the absence of legal action against any public officials, including mayors and municipal council members, despite ongoing cases against contractors and building inspectors.
Hugh Williamson, HRW’s Europe and Central Asia Director, emphasised the importance of not only rebuilding but also holding accountable those who approved and constructed buildings that failed catastrophically during the earthquakes. “No construction work can happen without the authorization of municipal and provincial authorities, so their officials should be investigated and held to account,” he stated.
HRW’s investigation into the matter revealed that while legal actions have been initiated against various contractors and technical personnel, public officials have largely remained unexamined. The defendants in these cases are typically charged with “causing death and injury through conscious negligence”, facing sentences of up to 22.5 years. However, the organisation noted a trend of leniency in past trials, with many penalties being reduced to fines.
The report further highlighted the procedural barriers in investigating public officials in Turkey, where a special permission is required to initiate such investigations, often leading to a lack of accountability. Williamson condemned this “shocking history of impunity” in Turkey regarding preventable deaths in earthquakes, calling for a change to ensure justice for the victims and their families and to take measures to prevent future tragedies.
HRW’s call to action comes on the backdrop of the devastating earthquakes in southeastern Turkey, which claimed over 50,000 lives and left hundreds of thousands injured and displaced.
