In Rize, families react to social media speculation and fake audio recordings following a fatal accident

The families of Gamze Saklı, Nilay Bilgin and Selinay Saral, who lost their lives in a traffic accident that occurred on the night of Tuesday, June 23 in the Çayeli district of Rize, are even more disturbed by a campaign conducted on social media amidst their grief. Although the funerals have been held, the repercussions of the event continue, and the families reacted harshly to posts and comments made especially on social media platforms. Fethi Bilgin, the cousin of Nilay Bilgin, who made a statement regarding the issue, stated that the footage taken from the accident site and the incessant comments were rubbing salt in the wounds of the families.

Fethi Bilgin, who was in the car at the time of the accident and recounted the details, explained that the deceased young people were sitting in a park on the coast of Çayeli district and suffered the fatal accident while leaving there and heading towards Rize. However, following this tragedy, he emphasized how much the false statements and unfounded claims made on social media regarding the event upset the families. Bilgin stated that everyone, knowledgeable or not, was commenting, causing the families to become even more upset, and that those who filmed and immediately shared video at the time of the accident crossed moral boundaries.

Another important issue causing the families' anger was that an audio recording was sent to some people's mobile phones as 'Conversation between police officers' before the funerals were released from the Forensic Medicine Institute. Fethi Bilgin stated that they received such a recording before taking the funerals, found it to be unfounded, checked the situation by going to the police, and learned that the recording had nothing to do with the police. He said that he thought security personnel needed to explain such a recording and initiated an investigation, and that although the recording turned out to be fake, it caused public outrage.

As a result of the investigations, it was revealed that the audio recording in question was made by a citizen passing by the scene to tell their friends about the accident at the time or to show off. However, the recording being presented and circulated as a police scan caused the families to be in a difficult situation and created unnecessary suspicion against the police force. Fethi Bilgin added that such situations should be questioned socially and that one should not make a spectacle of someone's pain while sharing it.

In summary, this tragic event in Rize was not just a traffic accident; it has sparked a serious debate on social media ethics, digital privacy, and sharing culture during emergencies. While trying to cope with the pain of losing their children, families have also had to struggle with unfounded news and images. This situation has once again thrown the truth in our faces that individuals need to be more sensitive and careful in their use of social media.