20.02.2025 14:01
The investigation into TÜSİAD President Orhan Turan and TÜSİAD YIK President Ömer Aras drew attention as it began following President Erdoğan's reaction during the AK Party Group Meeting. Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç stated in his remarks on the matter, "The TÜSİAD investigation did not start after our President's speech; the statements coincided with that day."
The President of the Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen's Association (TÜSİAD), Orhan Turan, and the Chairman of the High Advisory Council, Mehmet Ömer Arif Aras, were subjected to an investigation on February 13 due to their statements made at the association's general assembly, regarding the crimes of 'publicly disseminating misleading information' and 'attempting to influence fair trial.'
ARAS GAVE TESTIMONY FOR 3 HOURS, TURAN FOR 1 HOUR
As part of the investigation, suspects Turan and Aras arrived at the Istanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan under police escort to give their testimonies. Here, suspect Aras provided testimony for approximately 3 hours, while suspect Turan gave testimony for about 1 hour.
TRAVEL BAN IMPOSED
After giving their statements at the Prosecutor's Office, the suspects were brought before the on-duty judge with a request for judicial control measures in the form of a 'travel ban' due to the crime of 'publicly disseminating misleading information.' Following their statements, a travel ban and judicial control decision were issued against Turan and Aras by the court.
INVESTIGATION STARTED AFTER ERDOĞAN'S REMARKS
The investigation against TÜSİAD President Orhan Turan and TÜSİAD YIK President Ömer Aras drew attention as it began after President Erdoğan's reaction during the AK Party Group Meeting, while Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç spoke about the issue for the first time.
MINISTER TUNÇ: TESTIMONIES COINCIDED WITH THAT DAY
Speaking live on TGRT, Minister Tunç stated, "The TÜSİAD investigation did not start after our President's speech; the testimonies coincided with that day."
WHAT DID PRESIDENT ERDOĞAN SAY?
President Erdoğan, during his party's parliamentary group meeting yesterday, stated, "Before addressing TÜSİAD's statements, which are excessively provocative, I want to emphasize this fact; in democracies, no one is exempt from criticism. As long as it is consistent, constructive, and well-intentioned, we have never turned a deaf ear to criticisms, nor will we. If there is a phenomenon called 'Turkey speaking today,' it is undoubtedly made possible by the AK Party and our governments. Those who rush to court to prevent the lifting of bans have no words to say to us regarding democracy and freedoms. The TÜSİAD mentality symbolizes the periods when politics was weak and the state was under their control. We remember very well what the TÜSİAD mentality corresponded to before 2002. They were designing politics in the old Turkey as they wished. They controlled and directed decision-making bodies according to their interests. They were adjusting governments through newspaper headlines. We said 'stop' to this." he had stated.