ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — A state-owned Turkish media outlet fired one of its reporters after he asked questions to government ministers about their colleague’s alleged mafia connections in a press conference on Friday.
Anadolu Agency (AA) reporter Musab Turan was fired after he asked Industry Minister Mustafa Varank and Agriculture Minister Bekir Pakdemirli to respond to allegations that the interior minister has connections to the exiled Turkish mafia leader Sedat Peker.
Anadolu has said in a statement that, "Musab Turan has been terminated from employment by the General Directorate of Anadolu Agency for his actions in the press conference, which violated journalistic ethics and principles and involved political propaganda by broadcasting the conference live from his social media account."
In response to the statement, Turan shared a video on Instagram saying, "I apologize for getting emotional when I asked the question, but I don't apologize for asking it."
Peker is a well-known Turkish mafia leader. He left Turkey in 2019 after he was convicted twice on organized crime charges. He has also been accused of rape and drug dealing.
Peker has shared videos on YouTube describing alleged incidents involving crime, corruption, and state secrets since the beginning of May. He also accused members of the government and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) of corruption and other crimes, as well as betraying him in his videos.
He claims in a video shared on May 13 that Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu offered him protection and informed him of an investigation that was being prepared into him before he fled the country.
Soylu responded to the video saying, "I surrender to justice," on Twitter.
Turan will be investigated about whether he is a member of a terrorist organization or not, according to Anadolu.
Fahrettin Altun, head of communications for the Turkish presidency, said that Turkey is a "serious" state and anyone who undermines it will "pay the price."
"Those who attempt to humiliate the government, which is the representative of the nation, with the language of terrorism, can not stay under Anadolu Agency's roof," he added.
