Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Mehmet Özhaseki sparked controversy on the anniversary of the February 6, 2023 earthquakes in Turkey when he said earthquake victims are happy about the destruction of their previous homes when they receive new ones to replace them.
The magnitude 7.8 and 7.5 earthquakes affected 11 provinces in the country’s south and southeast on February 6, killing more than 53,000 people in Turkey and leaving millions homeless.
Özhaseki’s remarks, made during a live broadcast on CNN Türk, sparked a widespread backlash. Critics accused him of being insensitive to the victims of one of the country’s most tragic natural disasters.
During the broadcast Özhaseki claimed: “The standard of the houses we are now building in the earthquake zone is much higher than before. … When we deliver these houses and I visit the owners, they say, ‘Thank God our house was destroyed. If there were no deaths involved, it’s good that it was destroyed because you’ve given us a nice new villa.'”
His comments quickly sparked controversy on social media. Many users on X criticized the minister for trivializing the suffering and losses of the earthquake victims. It remained a trending topic for an extended period of time, reflecting the intensity of public disapproval.
In response to the growing criticism, Özhaseki stood by his remarks, arguing on social media that those exploiting the issue for their “perception management” should listen to the citizens themselves, who reportedly expressed gratitude for the new villas provided to them. “We can’t bring back our deceased brothers and sisters,” Özhaseki wrote. “But we will continue to provide their surviving relatives with solid and safe homes.”
Opposition voices, including Good (İYİ) Party deputies Turhan Çömez and Şenol Sunat, expressed dismay. They wondered how many people could really be grateful for such a swap and accused the minister of insensitivity and a lack of empathy.
The Turkish government has been criticized for its slow response to the disaster as well as lax enforcement of building codes, which led to a proliferation of shoddy construction in the country and drove up the death toll.
On the anniversary of the earthquakes, millions of people are still living in makeshift shelters as reconstruction is progressing slowly.
