Babacan criticizes investigation into TÜSİAD: 'It scares off investors'

DEVA Party Chairman Ali Babacan evaluated the investigation into TÜSİAD. Babacan stated that the investigation aims to silence dissenting views and noted that the country cannot achieve economic recovery through such measures.

In his speech at the parliamentary group meeting, Babacan reacted to the opening of an investigation into TÜSİAD with the following words:

''Do you want a strong economy? First, you will establish a fair legal order. Do you want a strong economy? You will not open an investigation against everyone who speaks. Do you want a strong economy? You will not try to silence everyone who objects.''

AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made statements regarding TÜSİAD at his party's group meeting, using the following expressions:

''You may miss the old Turkey, but in the new Turkey, you will know your place. If you are a business association, you will learn to act like a business association. You will not provoke the state's institutions.''

Babacan stated that the investigation creates pressure on the business world. Criticizing the steps taken against TÜSİAD, Babacan expressed the following:

'Such practices are nothing more than instilling fear in foreign investors and intimidating domestic investors... You cannot lead this country to prosperity by trying to silence every different voice and by opening investigations. You cannot fix the economy by abandoning justice and the rule of law.'

TÜSİAD YİK President Orhan Turan

WHAT HAPPENED?

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office announced that an investigation had been opened into TÜSİAD YİK President Orhan Turan due to the speech he gave at the association's general assembly on February 13, 2025. In the prosecutor's office statement, it was stated that Turan's remarks regarding judicial processes were of a nature that could disrupt public order.

It was learned that within the scope of the investigation, Orhan Turan and Mehmet Ömer Arif Aras, who had previously been under investigation, were summoned to testify. Instructions were given to the Istanbul Police Department Security Branch, and both individuals were brought to the courthouse.

The following was reported in the prosecutor's office statement:

''During the ongoing investigation, it was determined that the person named Orhan TURAN, the president of TÜSİAD, who spoke at the association's general assembly held on 13/02/2025, made statements in his speech regarding some investigations and prosecutions being carried out by judicial authorities that were contrary to the truth, contained disinformation, and were capable of disrupting public peace by suggesting and directing the judiciary. Upon this determination, it was decided to initiate an ex officio investigation against the suspect Orhan TURAN within the scope of the ongoing investigation for the crimes of Publicly Spreading Misleading Information and Attempting to Influence a Fair Trial, and instructions were given to the Istanbul Police Department Security Branch to ensure that the suspects Orhan TURAN and Mehmet Ömer Arif ARAS are made available at our Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.''