A news channel widely considered loyal to Turkish President Erdogan has unveiled a US kebab shop owner as a politics expert in the wake of humiliating government election defeats.
As certain Turkish cities such as Istanbul and Ankara recount the local election votes from 31st March, with the EU accusing President Erdogan and the ruling AKP party of not respecting the results, Turkish news channel A Haber (A News) interviewed Kenan Demir as an election analyst from the US.
During the interview, Demir said: “I can give an example from the state where I live. In North Carolina’s 9th congressional district election, it was discovered that the Republican candidate had tampered with the votes. The Democrats launched a legal case and the court decided on a re-election.”
After checking the ‘expert’s’ credentials, it was discovered that he was the owner of a kebab shop called Sultan Kebab in North Carolina , according to local reports.
The A News TV channel is privately-owned by the Turkuvaz Media Group, which in turn is owned by Calik Holding, and all are deemed to be loyal to the regime of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, according to Hurriyet daily news and Stockholm Center for Freedom (SCF).
Calik Holding, the company that owns the channel, was previously headed by the Turkish leader’s son-in-law, according to the Financial Times.
Demir was born into a poor family and while he was working in a minimarket he met the American-Italian basketball player Chris Corchiani.
Corchiani realised that the boy had a tough life and did not attend school so he and his wife decided to adopt the boy.
Demir’s parents agreed to the adoption and after the legal procedure, the family moved to Europe.
Several years later, Corchiani and his family settled in the US.
According to local media, Demir recently tried to become a Turkish MP for the province of Tokay, but failed to win the seat.
The news channel has yet to comment on the matter.
