German Media: Is Erdogan's Son ‘the Oil Minister of Daesh’?

Many Western countries refuse to believe that Turkey is involved in illegal oil smuggling activities with Daesh terrorists, also known as ISIL or the Islamic State. However, even if one would put aside the recent evidence provided, the reputation of the president's son Erdogan speaks for itself, German newspaper Handelsblatt wrote.

Although on paper the president's son, Bilal Erdogan, has an impressive, even exemplary resume, his actual biography has quite a few dark spots, Handelsblatt wrote, adding that Russia’s accusations against him are not unfounded.

In 2013, prosecutors suspected Bilal Erdogan of laundering money for his father. The accusation was based on a dossier, which included photos and phone records between Bilal and Recep Tayyip Erdogan. By that time, the then Turkish prime minister instructed his son to "get rid of all the money in the house," the newspaper wrote.

In early 2014, there was a record of another phone conversation, which was about a ten million dollar payment. There have been no direct indications about the purpose of the payment, but the media speculated that it was bribing in connection with the construction of an oil pipeline. Erdogan said that the audio was a "dirty fake."

In November, Syrian Minister of Information Omran al-Zoubi publicly stated that the transport company owned by Bilal Erdogan was receiving oil from Daesh terrorists. Some others accused Bilal Erdogan of stealing oil from areas captured by jihadists in Iraq and shipping it to Asian countries. As a result of these activities, he was called by the local media "the oil minister of Daesh."

Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he was ready to resign if his family's involvement in the oil smuggling activities are proven to be true.

According to the newspaper, the Turkish President should be more cautious with his statements.

With such bad cards, the President is obviously gambling at very high stakes, the article concluded.