22.06.2026 23:41
After the name confusion in the February 6 earthquakes in Hatay, Ahmet Artan, who was entered into the system as deceased, could not obtain a health report because he still appears dead in healthcare institution records, and he was fined for driving without a license because he could not renew his driver's license. Demanding the correction of the systemic error, Artan said, 'When it comes to traffic fines, I'm alive, but for some things, I'm dead.'
The earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş caused great destruction in Hatay and nearly 25,000 people died. Ahmet Artan, 39, who was caught in the disaster of the century on the 3rd floor of his home in Narlıca Neighborhood, was rescued from his trapped home after half an hour of struggle.
REGISTERED AS 'DEAD' IN THE SYSTEM DUE TO NAME CONFUSION IN THE EARTHQUAKE However, Artan's real struggle began when he was registered as dead in the records, even though he survived the earthquake unscathed. The earthquake victim was entered into the system as dead instead of the citizen who had the same first name, last name, and father's name as him and who died in the earthquake. After the name confusion, Artan, who still appears as 'dead' in many government agencies, can correct the error in the system for banking transactions, but faces the warning 'Person is dead, transaction cannot be performed' in the healthcare system.
“I AM ALIVE WHEN IT COMES TO TRAFFIC FINES, BUT I AM DEAD FOR OTHER THINGS” Stating that he needs a health report to renew his expired driver's license, Artan cannot renew it because he cannot get the report. Artan, who received a traffic fine for driving without a license due to the systemic error, said, 'I am alive when it comes to traffic fines, but I am dead for other things,' expressing his desire for the error to be corrected as soon as possible.
“I WANT THIS ERROR CORRECTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE” Ahmet Artan, stating that he cannot get a report from his family doctor because he appears dead in the system and cannot renew his license, and that he was fined for driving without a license, said, 'On February 6, they showed me as 'dead' in the earthquake. Previously, we appeared dead in banks, and they corrected that error. After that, I still appeared dead in some institutions of our state, and they corrected that too. Now my driver's license has expired and I want to renew it. I went to the hospital for a health report, but they direct me to the family doctor. When I go to the family doctor, I get an error saying 'You have no record, the person appears dead, so I cannot make a record.' I went to the health center. At the health center, it similarly shows 'Person is dead in the system, cannot process.' Yesterday, I talked to many friends and called many places. I even wrote a complaint to CİMER and sent it. I also wrote a petition at the Health Center for our Ministry of Health. I said, 'I want this error corrected as soon as possible.' Right now, I still appear dead only in health clinics and healthcare institutions. The date of death even shows as 06.02.2023. I hope they correct this error. Because my driver's license has expired and I cannot extend it. I don't want them to stop me and write me a ticket tomorrow or the next day. I got a traffic fine a week ago. I am alive when it comes to traffic fines, but I am dead for other things. I want this error corrected as soon as possible. Because I am seriously victimized.'
“SINCE THE EARTHQUAKE, OUR NICKNAME HAS BEEN 'LIVING DEAD'” Ahmet Artan, stating that because he appears dead in the systems, his friends call him 'the living dead,' said, 'At that time, since no one had identification, a friend named Ahmet Artan had died. Because his father's name was also Mehmet, instead of showing him as dead, they showed me as dead. We corrected this later, but some institutions of the state still haven't fixed it. That's why I'm suffering. For example, this happened just yesterday; when I went to the health institution and gave my own ID, it came up as 'Ahmet Artan, person is dead, transaction cannot be performed.' I went to the family doctor, and the family doctor said 'You have no record.' The error 'Person is dead, transaction cannot be performed' appears. In healthcare institutions, I appear as dead.'
Asking for this error to be corrected as soon as possible, Artan said, 'Since the earthquake, our nickname has remained 'the living dead,' and my friends call me 'the living dead.' Sometimes it seems funny when I look at it now, but I am suffering serious hardships.'