Saudi social media trolls target Turkish interior min.

By Sertac Bulur

ANKARA (AA) – Saudi social media trolls have been targeting the Turkish interior minister by distorting his remarks against terrorism.

Misquoting Suleyman Soylu's address to the nation on Feb. 26 in Istanbul, the trolls are trying to blame Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi's killing on Turkey.

Khashoggi, a journalist associated with The Washington Post, was killed last fall in the Saudi Embassy in Istanbul. Riyadh initially denied any role in the killing but has since sought to blame his death on a botched operation carried out by rogue agents.

The trolls shared a video “Interior Minister Soylu threatens everyone who criticizes Turkey and the tourists” subtitled in Arabic.

Sharing anti-Soylu posts on their social media accounts, they tried to scheme against the Turkish minister by tilting the speech against Arabs, when it actually targets Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) and PKK terrorists.

The trolls falsely attributed quotes to Soylu such as: “Don’t think that this issue will end like this. Those who oppose Turkey abroad and then plan holidays in the Mediterranean cities and Antalya will be arrested. Files have been prepared against them by police at the airports.

"I believe then no one will be hostile to us. Actually, there is no one who can be hostile to us now. Know this.”

- Actual Soylu remarks

The actual speech was about Turkey’s fight against terrorism and explained the problems big states face.

"We, as four, Foreign Ministry, Justice Ministry, Interior Ministry, Intelligence Service, are conducting wide-scale operations abroad as well. Not only FETO, but we are also carrying out large operations against PKK,” Soylu said in his speech.

“Let PKK members come to Turkey from abroad, we are arresting them at the airports now. It isn’t like Turkey is not aware of anything. You will talk there, then will come here for a holiday in Antalya… It is not the case anymore.

“Our friends are preparing a series of files for those who show hostility to Turkey outside,” he said.

“PKK will try to find a novel way. Every terror organization is like that. Terror organizations are an illness. But with Allah’s permission, we will not give them any opportunity.”

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of some 40,000 people, including women and children.