Hürriyet Apologizes to Erdoğan, Lays Off Two Journalists

Hürriyet daily has laid off two journalists because of the image titled "Curse of Friday the 13th" on hurriyet.com.tr, and apologized to President Erdoğan.

In the news released on Hürriyet's website, a photo of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan eating a chicken was added to Leonardo Da Vinci's The Last Supper, Il Cenacolo, and used as the image of the news. This image remained online for a few minutes.

While Hürriyet daily apologized to President Erdoğan, it has announced that it laid off two journalists.

Statement by Hürriyet

Here is Hürriyet's statement:

"It is detected in sorrow that on our newspaper's website, a totally unacceptable image showing President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan too took place.

"The content in question has been removed as soon as realized.

"At the end of the fast investigation, editor and content head of digital by-products department who have been found to be responsible from the mistake which came to light that it occurred as a result of a mistake have been discharged.

"What was done was a grave mistake. We apologize to Mr. President because of this incident". (ÇT/TK)

Click here to read the article in Turkish