Journalist claims Erdogan’s words on Imamoglu were censored by Communication Department

Erdogan’s comment on the conviction of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu while responding to journalists on a trip back from Turkmenistan was censored by the presidential communication board, a prominent Turkish journalist claimed.

The pro-opposition Halk TV’s Ismail Saymaz said it seemed bizarre that none of the journalists asked a single question regarding the court ruling which was high on Turkey’s agenda, and argued that was not the truth behind the scenes.

According to Saymaz, journalists did ask about the case and Erdogan responded, but his answer was later censored by Fahrettin Altun the head of the communication department of the presidency.

"Everyone should respect the decision of the judiciary," Erdogan said, according to Saymaz. He also added some much harsher comments.

The embedded journalists on the plane all reported this to their editors but that part of the brief was later removed by Altun, Saymaz said.

In late August, Reuters news agency published a special report showing how Turkish mainstream media has become a tight chain of command of government-approved headlines, front pages and topics of TV debate under the administration of President Tayyip Erdogan.

When major news breaks that could bring trouble for Erdogan or his government, Altun routinely contacts editors and senior correspondents to set out a coverage plan, Reuters cited an insider as saying.