Top official slams global media for spreading 'lies,' 'fake news' about Turkey

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

ANKARA (AA) – Turkey’s communications director on Friday called out major global news outlets for spreading “lies” about the country.

Fahrettin Altun posted screenshots of two reports on Twitter – one by Reuters news agency and the other by US-based magazine Foreign Policy – and rubbished them as “fake news.”

“Fake news used to be a problem on social media. It seems that the mainstream media, too, suffers from the same issue now,” he said.

“That even major organizations spread such lies is deeply concerning.”

The purportedly exclusive report by Reuters was based on three anonymous sources and claimed that Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is “losing confidence in central bank governor Sahap Kavcioglu.”

The Foreign Policy article claimed that National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar is Erdogan’s “heir apparent” and tries to paint him as a more malleable alternative for the West to run Turkey.​​​​​​​