08.12.2025 09:01
Claims that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will meet with PKK/YPG leader Mazlum Abdi have been categorically denied. In a statement, Communications Director Burhanettin Duran emphasized that such unfounded claims are disinformation aimed at influencing Turkey's security policies.
The Communications Directorate responded in writing to claims attributed to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on social media platforms regarding a meeting with PKK/YPG leader Mazlum Abdi.
Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran stated in a post on his social media account that the claims in question do not reflect the truth and expressed that there is no such initiative or planning on President Erdoğan's agenda.
In his statement, Duran emphasized that rumors of such meetings attributed to the President are baseless, misinform the public, and target Turkey's security policies.
"BASELESS CLAIMS MISLEAD THE PUBLIC"
Communications Director Duran made the following assessments in his social media post:
"Some claims of meetings attributed to our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, are contrary to reality, and there is no initiative or planning regarding this on our President's agenda. Such baseless claims, whether shared consciously or unconsciously, mislead the public and aim to affect the security policies that Turkey is pursuing in a different direction."
The statement emphasized that accurate and verified information regarding President Erdoğan's domestic and international contacts is only shared with the public by the Presidential Communications Directorate and other authorized public institutions.
DISINFORMATION WARNING: ONLY TRUST OFFICIAL SOURCES
Duran called on the public to be cautious against unverified claims that spread rapidly on social media.
The statement highlighted that claims made, especially regarding sensitive issues related to Turkey's fight against terrorism and security policies, pose a risk of misleading the public if they are contrary to the truth and may also target the country's strategic position.
In this context, citizens were warned to rely on official statements made by the Presidential Communications Directorate, relevant ministries, and other authorized institutions while following current developments.
THE SOURCE OF THE CLAIM IS FRANCE
The claim denied by the presidency originated from a social media post by Adil Bakewan, Director of the France-based European Institute for the Middle East and North Africa Studies (EISMENA).
Bakewan claimed in his post that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Mazlum Abdi had agreed to meet shortly. According to the claim, a meeting with PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan was also suggested to be planned at the end of the process.
However, the presidency completely rejected this scenario, stating that such speculative claims are inconsistent with Turkey's official security policies and the counter-terrorism strategy it pursues.