Yeni Akit editor-in-chief dies during Saudi trip with Erdoğan

MEDINA – Anadolu Agency

The editor-in-chief of controversial Turkish Islamist newspaper Yeni Akit, Hasan Karakaya, has passed away due to a heart attack during a trip to Saudi Arabia with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Karakaya sustained a heart attack at the Medina hotel where he was staying. After receiving first aid from the Turkish Presidency’s health team, Karakaya was transferred to the King Fahd Hospital where he was pronounced dead.  

Erdoğan was informed of Karakaya’s death at the hospital, where he went to pay the columnist a visit. 

Erdoğan conveyed his condolences to Karakaya’s wife, Aysel Karakaya, and Yeni Akit’s owner, Mustafa Karahasanoğlu. 

Reports indicate Karakaya’s remains will be brought to Turkey with the presidency’s private aircraft, “TUR,” which carried the president’s entourage to Saudi Arabia.