Reuters revealed on Monday that it has filed an appeal against a Turkish court order requiring the removal of a news report from the agency's website, which stated that American and Swedish prosecutors are investigating a complaint of illicit gains linked to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's son, Bilal. According to the court ruling, which Reuters has obtained a copy of, the news agency has seven days to submit an objection.
A special report published by Reuters on June 26 mentioned that U.S. and Swedish anti-corruption authorities are examining a complaint alleging that a Swedish company affiliated with an American firm promised to pay commissions worth tens of millions of dollars if Bilal Erdogan assisted it in gaining a dominant market position in the country. The report indicated that authorities in the U.S. and Sweden have initiated preliminary investigations.
A complaint submitted to the authorities, which Reuters has reviewed, noted that ultimately, no commissions were paid. Two informed sources and communications from the company reviewed by Reuters indicated that the Swedish company "Dignita Systems" abruptly withdrew from the project late last year. The parent company of Dignita in the U.S. confirmed that the project was canceled due to reasons including "worrisome behavior" in Turkey.
Reuters stated that it has "appealed against the court’s removal order on the grounds that it contradicts Turkish legal protections for press freedom and expression." The agency added: "Our report was prepared in accordance with the Trust Principles governing Reuters' work, and our commitment to publish fair and accurate reports for the global public interest. We stand by it."
Before the report was published, a senior administration official declined to comment. Bilal Erdogan, through his lawyer, stated prior to the publication that the allegations of his collusion with Dignita were "completely unfounded." The lawyer described it as "a web of lies."
Following the publication of the report, Fahrettin Altun, the Director of Communications at the Turkish Presidency, said: "We condemn Reuters for presenting this false news story. The report contains unfounded allegations."
