Turkish Authorities Arrest 97 People after Looting in Earthquake Zone

Turkish authorities have issued arrest warrants for 97 people in the country after looting in the region hit by devastating earthquakes last week.

232 people are under investigation for looting, theft, and fraud, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.

According to eyewitnesses, the situation in the quake zones is partially tense, and according to government reports, there has also been looting.

Turkey's representative to Human Rights Watch, Emma Sinclair-Webb, as well as the Diyarbakir Bar Association, expressed concern about unverified reports that suspected thieves had been mistreated.

Sinclair Webb has appealed to the authorities to take action against suspected thieves as well as against people practicing extrajudicial retribution.