Newspaper's 'Erdoğan Has Died' Post Sparks Investigation

The Aydın Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation into the local newspaper Aydın Denge Gazetesi following a controversial social media post. On Tuesday, August 25, 2026, the newspaper's Facebook account shared a graphic with yellow and white text on a black background that read, "Erdoğan Vefat Etti," which translates to "Erdoğan Has Died."

Following the widespread reaction to the post, the newspaper clarified that the graphic was intended to announce the death of a citizen named Gülşen Erdoğan and was related to a story on their website. However, the initial post caused significant public concern and was reported to the authorities.

The Aydın Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has initiated an investigation under Article 217/A of the Turkish Penal Code, which addresses the crime of "Publicly Spreading Misleading Information."

As part of the investigation, prosecutors have ordered the detention of three individuals associated with the newspaper: its representative, the responsible editor-in-chief, and the news reporter. The report, citing Odatv, indicates that these individuals are now subject to arrest.