ANKARA

 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's son, Bilal, has denied allegations about his so-called “fleeing” to Italy, saying he is temporarily there to complete his PhD.

Bilal Erdogan made a statement to Anadolu Agency about a social media campaign conducted against him, making the allegation: "[Erdogan] Fled to Italy".

Erdogan is continuing a PhD in international relations at the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University.

"Johns Hopkins is based in Washington, but it is a university that operates in China and Italy. It is one of the most important universities in the world in its field. I started my PhD in Washington, but since 2009 I continued in Italy due to its closeness to Turkey.

“However, I took some time off in 2012 due to health problems. I returned to Italy in the fall semester of this year to complete my education.

“I am studying the economies of Turkey and Italy after the 1950s and the distribution of income in these two countries. I will continue my research with my thesis advisor, who is in Bologna," said Erdogan.

He added: "I will complete my thesis in one-and-a-half or two years and will return to Turkey. I arrived in Italy on August 30 and started studying. I was in Turkey 10 days ago for the sacrifice festival (Eid el-Adha). Hopefully, I will visit my country when I find a chance during this period."

About the accusations, Erdogan said: "I do not follow what is written about me in the media and social media and I also do not care about either of them, because, when I look at the news about me, I see how people can become cruel on an issue and a person they never met, and I feel sorry for them.

“I am in Italy just for my doctorate. I will come to my country whenever I find time. After finishing my doctorate, I will return to my country and live there until my last breath."

He added: "Only cowards flee. How can those who tell and spread the lie of ‘fled to Italy’ look at themselves in a mirror? Maybe they can look at their faces in the mirror, well, how can they look at their mothers’, fathers’ faces?

“They are really pitiful. I do not care about these [claims] and I will not. My lawyer is making the necessary preparations. My lawyer will struggle with defamers and those who attack my personal rights and who attempt to create false perception."