Turkish court arrests former rescue association chair for 'spreading disinformation'

Authorities arrested former AKUT Chair Nasuh Mahruki for "spreading false information" and "insulting judicial bodies" through social media posts. Mahruki denied the charges, stating his posts were based on documented articles by journalists and politicians.

Duvar English

Authorities detained the co-founder of the Turkish Search and Rescue Association (AKUT) and mountaineer Nasuh Mahruki for allegedly “publicly spreading misleading information” and “insulting judicial bodies” in a social media post. 

In his statement, Mahruki said, “I don’t know what I am accused of. The information I shared is based on articles by journalists and politicians, all of which I have documented.”

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation into Mahruki’s social media posts, citing the alleged offenses. Mahruki, accompanied by his lawyer, gave his testimony at an Istanbul courthouse and was subsequently referred to the criminal court, which ruled for his arrest.

During his testimony, Mahruki identified himself as a “motivational speaker” with a monthly income of 100,000 Turkish liras ($2,900). He reiterated, “My posts are based on published articles, and I hold their documents. It seems malicious individuals have manipulated public perception by spreading these posts.”

Mahruki speculated that the investigation might be related to a social media post he shared during the election period, where he criticized the Supreme Electoral Council (YSK). 

In the post, Mahruki wrote, “Great Turkish nation, be vigilant. The government and YSK are setting up a scheme to steal the elections one last time. The Chamber of Computer Engineers must oversee an early presidential election to ensure transparency. Without monitoring, they will steal our votes, replace them with fake ones, and unlawfully win again. This would mark the end of the Republic of Turkey in a manner worse than your worst nightmares.”

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) criticized the arrest of Mahruki in a social media post featuring a photo from the 1999 earthquake.

İmamoğlu wrote that the arrest decision for Nasuh Mahruki is the latest example of the decay of the Turkish legal system. 

"A detention based on ‘publicly disseminating misleading information’ does not meet any conditions outlined in the Code of Criminal Procedure,” he stated, adding that if such crime really existed, it would be impossible to find anyone to “write for pro-government newspapers or speak on their TV channels.” 

“At best, this arrest can only be described as disproportionate," the mayor concluded. 

Mahruki took on a vital role as the head of AKUT during the Gölcük earthquake of 1999, coordinating and participating in rescue efforts in the epicenter of destruction. He ran as an independent mayoral candidate for Istanbul’s Şişli district in the local elections of 2024.