ANKARA, Turkey — On Wednesday, two prominent Turkish business figures were questioned by prosecutors following their sharp criticism of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s administration during a period marked by a growing crackdown on dissenting opinions.
Orhan Turan, who serves as the president of the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TUSIAD), along with Omer Aras, the chairman of the association’s advisory council, were summoned as part of an inquiry into allegations of disseminating false information and seeking to influence judicial actions, according to reports from Sozcu and other news outlets.
Their questioning came in the wake of their comments made last week, where they criticized the government’s economic strategies and the ongoing legal measures against opposition figures, including media personnel.
Earlier that day, President Erdogan accused TUSIAD of crossing its boundaries, asserting, “You may miss the old Turkey, but you will know your place in the new Turkey.” He emphasized that business associations should operate without provoking the public or the institutions of the state, adding that they should refrain from putting pressure on the judiciary.
Turan and Aras join a growing list of notable individuals who have recently faced legal scrutiny or charges. Among them is Umit Ozdag, a far-right politician arrested last month for allegedly inciting violence, and a talent manager involved with well-known actors who was taken into custody for her supposed connection to anti-government protests from 2013.
Additionally, five journalists associated with Halk TV, an opposition-supporting television channel, are facing potential prison sentences after airing a secretly recorded discussion with a legal expert accused by the opposition of bias.
Ekrem Imamoglu, the well-liked mayor of Istanbul and a prospective challenger to Erdogan in upcoming elections, is also mired in several legal cases following his critiques of investigations into opposition-run municipalities. His situation is further complicated by the risk of a political ban should a higher court uphold a conviction from 2020 for supposedly insulting members of Turkey’s electoral board.
Furthermore, a number of elected mayors, alleged to have ties with Kurdish militants, have been ousted from office and replaced by state-appointed administrators.
Government representatives maintain that the judicial system functions independently and dismiss claims that the legal actions against opposition members are driven by political motivations.
