Strange statement from TRT regarding its reporter who called for 'assassination' of opposition: 'We took his shoes and jacket...'
The social media post by TRT Bayburt reporter Murat Söylemez became a topic of discussion in Parliament. TRT General Manager Zahit Sobacı announced that the reporter's microphone and jacket had been taken away.
12punto
The 'death to the opposition' call made by TRT Bayburt reporter Murat Söylemez in response to a social media post by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan targeting CHP leader Özgür Özel had drawn significant public backlash.
The scandalous post also caused controversy in Parliament.
According to the report by Veli Toprak from Sözcü, during the discussion of TRT's audit report at the Parliamentary State Economic Enterprises (KİT) Commission, CHP İstanbul MP Ali Gökçek reacted by saying, "Who is this person? You say he is not a permanent staff member, but he appears in broadcasts as a 'TRT reporter'."
STATEMENT FROM TRT
TRT Director General Zahid Sobacı stated that because TRT does not have an official representative office in Bayburt, they employ 'freelance reporters' who are paid on a per-piece basis. Sobacı said, "When this incident occurred, we immediately stopped receiving news from that person; we took back the TRT News microphone and jacket. We condemn this; such a statement is unacceptable, it is a statement that exceeds all bounds." he added.
Meanwhile, it has also emerged that Murat Söylemez visited Bayburt Governor Mustafa Eldivan under the title of 'TRT Bayburt reporter' and that this visit was shared on social media.