Turkish truth police are at work scanning the social media posts to catch anyone sharing information that is different from the official news about the corona virus cases.
Turkish truth police are at work scanning the social media posts to catch anyone sharing information that is different from the official news about the corona virus cases.
The strict press control in Turkey is the main reason why the people do not trust the media but more so the government. Government invents reasons to prevent any truthful or honest news that is published. Only a week ago, many journalists were detained then arrested for reporting on a funeral that the government preferred nobody knew.
When the corona virus pandemic started, Turkey was one of the few countries not reporting any cases. Not testing was one of the reasons why no cases appeared in Turkey.
Turkey is concerned that its nearly only revenue left, tourism, may dry out if it is revealed that it is a hotbed of the corona disease. Turkish government does not care or understand the dangers of hiding a disease that takes lives. Not having any cases contradicted the expectations though. Turkey being the hub of many flights from all over the world and many flights reporting positive tests of passengers on these flights, it was suspicious that Turkey showed no cases.
The mistrust against the AKP government combined with censored news being the only published source, soon rumors of people right and left having the corona virus started to appear. Wanting to put a lid on the “rumors” the government announced that the ministry of interior, that is, the security offices, would start scanning the social media posts and punish those who “spread false information.”
Yesterday it was revealed that the “truth police” was able to track down 93 people who had claimed that the pandemic had reached Turkey, or that the Turkish authorities were not prepared for this disease, or that the issue was being hidden from the people of Turkey on their social media posts. The people who had posts indicating these are now all suspects in the cases and investigations the Turkish government has opened.
Accusing the defendants with “inciting the people and causing social panic by spreading false rumors” 19 people have been detained by the police so far.
It is expected that the defendants and cases will increase as Turkish people start expressing their frustration against an inapt and uncaring government that is bungling this health crisis at the expense of peoples’ lives.
Sendika.org News (M.B.)
