Kazım Budak, who became etched in memories with the images recorded while he was delivering a construction machine loaded from Istanbul to Elbistan during the February 6 earthquakes, said, "The person named Haluk Levent carried out a perception operation in Hatay for his own benefit and interests, saying 'There is no state, there is no nation.' Shame on him, may the state make him pay dearly."
Truck driver Kazım Budak, who became etched in memories with the images recorded while he was delivering a construction machine loaded from Istanbul to Elbistan after the February 6 earthquakes, recounted those days after the time that has passed. Budak, also touching upon the public debates regarding earthquake aid in recent days, said, "We didn't go there for money. We didn't go there to become famous. We went for the sake of Allah, for our nation, to save lives."
"When we arrived, the state was there, and the teams were at their posts."
Kazım Budak, stating that contrary to the information conveyed from the region, all law enforcement forces of the state were present and ready to help when they went to provide aid, said, "After the earthquake, millions of people rushed to the region for help, they went there. We also went. But I especially want to say this; as a nation, we must trust our state to the fullest. Because 85-86 million people living in our Turkey are under the guarantee of our state. Everyone should lean on their state, stand behind their state. We perhaps reached the region 9 or 10 hours later. But the state had gone there much earlier than us. When we arrived, the state was there. Its Gendarmerie was there, its police were there, its military was there. AFAD was there, Kızılay was there. All state institutions, all teams were at their posts."
"Haluk Levent and whoever was with him should all be held accountable one by one."
Budak, also sharply criticizing Haluk Levent, the founder of the AHBAP Association, who has come to the agenda with allegations of large-scale fraud, made the following statements regarding the issue:
"During that process, there were those who carried out wrong perception operations. Today, we see that there were those who did this for their own gain and interest. Our state is strong. The law will do what it requires. As citizens, we want our state to conduct the necessary investigations and for those responsible, if any, to be held accountable before the law. As a nation, we must stand by our state. Social media has a very great power to mislead. Therefore, people should be careful. They should not believe everything they see. They should research honest media and trust press organizations that do accurate reporting. The person who founded the AHBAP Association deceived this nation. He went to Hatay and carried out a perception operation for his own benefit, for his interests, saying 'There is no state here, there is no nation.' Shame on him, may the state make him pay dearly. The person named Haluk Levent and whoever was with him should be pursued to the end, and all of them should be held accountable one by one. We have the motto 'Let people live so that the state may live.' We have no self-interest, no money. We have the power of faith; we went there with the power of faith. We didn't go there for money. We didn't go there to become famous. We didn't go there to appear on television or to advertise. We didn't go there to collect money from companies and make a name for ourselves. We went for the sake of Allah, for our nation, for our people, to save lives. Our strength was not money, it was the power of faith. We set out with the power of compassion. May our state be well and prosperous. When we arrived in the earthquake zone, our state was already there. As a nation, we must be united, trust our state, and always stand by it." - ISTANBUL