A conservative paper supporting Turkey’s prime minister went on an anti-Semitic diatribe regarding the recent mine disaster that claimed the lives of 301 people, International Business Times reported Wednesday.

Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdoğan – Photo: AFP

The article on the front page of Yeni Akit on Tuesday declared that the son-in-law of Alp Gurkan, the owner of the Soma mine where the disaster occurred, is a Jew. The paper was roundly condemned on social media.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been under fire for his handling of the tragedy. He infuriated Turks last week by saying mining accidents “are in the nature of the business.” An aide of Erdoğan was caught on camera kicking a protester who had cursed the prime minister during his visit to Soma, and Erdoğan allegedly punched a young man in a supermarket.

The Business Times provided a translation of sections of the article. “While the cartel media, which have Jewish partners, and the parallel media, which are in love with Jews, and the Western media guided by Jews are accusing the prime minister over the Soma disaster, it has been revealed that the son-in-law of Alp Gurkan, the owner of the mining company that is responsible for the disaster, is a Jew named ‘Mario Asafrana,’ and he changed his name to ‘Mahir’,” it was written in Yeni Akit according to the translation.

Yusuf Yerkel, left, adviser to Turkey’s Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan, kicking a protestor as Special Forces police officers detain him during a protest against Erdogan’s visit to Soma, May 14, 2014.- Photo: Reuters

The paper, founded in 2010 as a successor to another paper that was forced to close after its owner was sued successfully for defamation of the military, was fined in 2012 for describing gay people as “perverts.”

This week’s issue also included conspiracy-related columns, reading “Did the ‘Jewish son-in-law’ play a role in the parallel media’s attack on Erdoğan?” and “All info on Soma incident leads us to Israel,” the Business Times reported.

View original HAARETZ publication at: http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/1.592026