A Turkish internet celebrity is facing prison for spreading misleading information about the 2023 earthquakes

Turkish social media star Oguzhan Ugur faces up to four and a half years in prison over social media posts following two powerful earthquakes last year, which allegedly spread misinformation and hampered search and rescue efforts, the Turkish news agency reported. The media reported.

Earthquakes measuring 7.8 and 7.5 struck 11 provinces in the south and southeast of the country on February 6, 2023, killing nearly 60,000 people in Turkey and parts of Syria and leaving millions homeless.

Ugur is one of three defendants in the indictment drawn up by the Istanbul Public Prosecutor's Office.

Posts from Babala TV's From the epicenter. The leaflets called for sending search and rescue teams to the area, warning of the risk of flooding due to heavy rains.

Authorities later refuted similar reports that appeared in Turkish media and found them to be “inaccurate.”

The indictment accuses Ugur and the other two suspects of causing panic and fear among people by spreading misleading information under Article 217/a of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK).

The law, which criminalizes the publication of “false or misleading information” and provides for prison sentences of between one and three years, was passed in Parliament in October 2022, sparking widespread criticism as a harsh measure targeting freedom of expression and independent journalists. It increases the penalty by half for criminals who hide their identity or act on behalf of an organisation.

In his testimony to prosecutors, Ugur said he was not the one who posted the tweets about the dams from Babala TV's X account. He said another suspect in the indictment, Kan Kayakan, was the one who posted the tweets about the dams. However, Kayakan told prosecutors that he did not remember posting the tweets that led to the investigation.

Ugur, who was a pioneer in relief efforts following the earthquakes, said that he and his team worked for days without sleep to help earthquake victims and support efforts to collect millions of liras in donations for the earthquake zone.

He added: “Our only goal was to help the victims.”

A large group of volunteers organized by Ugur and his Babala TV team in cooperation with the Anatolian People and Peace Platform (AHBAP) Foundation, a grassroots relief organization, worked in the earthquake zone to collect aid and raise funds in the aftermath of the earthquakes.

Babala TV, which has gained popularity due to the audience's ability to interact live with guests and ask questions, has 4.7 million followers on YouTube.

Like? Take a second of your time to support Turkish Minute on Patreon!

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos