Controversy on Turkish media over Erdogan’s “death”

Wide controversy on social media in Turkey after rumors spread about the health of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, some of which reached confirmation of Erdogan’s death.

A large number of social media users circulated news about the health of the 67-year-old Erdogan, and published video clips showing Erdogan walking with difficulty last Friday, as well as a clip of him falling asleep during a speech he delivered to his ruling Justice and Development Party.
And the Turkish police announced, according to what was reported by “Bloomberg” agency, that they were investigating dozens of social media users on charges of spreading a rumor about the death of President Erdogan.

And the police said in a statement, yesterday, Wednesday, that they were investigating “false messages” posted under the hashtag “#olmus” on Twitter, the word that means “died” or “in the name of God” in Turkish.

The statement indicated that the police investigated thirty people suspected of spreading these “lies”, and that they were referred to the judiciary for investigation.

On the other hand, supporters and officials of the Turkish presidency published clips of Erdogan playing football and basketball to dispel what they say are “lies”.

Erdogan’s supporters attacked the publishers of the tweets about the president’s health, asserting that they had “malicious goals.”

Dosta güven, düşmana korku… pic.twitter.com/ljoR6UEAuI

— Fahrettin Altun (@fahrettinaltun) November 3, 2021

Yesterday, Wednesday, Fahrettin Altun, head of the communications department in the Turkish presidency, posted on his official Twitter account, a 13-second video clip showing Erdogan wearing a muzzle and getting off the presidential car outside the presidential palace and behind him an officer in line with protocol.