New statement from TÜSİAD, the center of controversy: 'Today or tomorrow...'

Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜSİAD) President Orhan Turan made remarks following the statements by TÜSİAD TİK President Ömer Aras. TÜSİAD President Orhan Turan announced that they are working on a new text to clear up any misunderstandings.

NEW STATEMENT COMING 

Speaking to Sözcü newspaper columnist Saygı Öztürk, TÜSİAD President Orhan Turan said, "The issues that everyone knows and talks about were also brought to the agenda by us. However, to prevent any misunderstandings, we will issue another comprehensive statement today or tomorrow."

Turan stated that they are working on the content of the statement and will make the necessary corrections in their new announcement to avoid creating any false perceptions. He also responded to the accusations directed at them. Turan said, "We absolutely do not accept the accusations of 'attempting to influence the judiciary and publicly spreading false information' directed at us."

WE RECEIVED MESSAGES OF REGRET 

Turan answered questions regarding the reactions from members following his statements. "There was no negative conversation" said Turan, noting that despite this, they received a large number of messages from members. Turan conveyed that members expressed their sadness regarding the statements made by politicians criticizing TÜSİAD, and he evaluated this situation as well.

Turan also added the following regarding the public perception surrounding the content of their statements: 

"There is a situation where the issues everyone is talking about, and which we have also brought to the agenda, are being misunderstood, and a wrong message is being conveyed on behalf of the association. Therefore, it is our responsibility to make the necessary clarification."

WHAT HAPPENED?

The General Assembly meeting of TÜSİAD, the umbrella organization for big business in Turkey, was held yesterday at a hotel in Beşiktaş, Istanbul.

The opening remarks made by TÜSİAD President Orhan Turan and High Advisory Council (YİK) President Ömer Aras at the meeting sparked public debate.

Stating that "dismissal decisions are being made against lieutenants on charges of indiscipline, yet in many cases that cause public outrage such as earthquakes, fires, harassment, femicide, and workplace accidents, the perpetrators are either not found or released in a short time," Turan drew attention to the recent increase in the appointment of trustees and the detention and arrest of journalists.

Emphasizing that trustees are being appointed in place of elected mayors and drawing attention to recent arrests, Ömer Aras touched upon the pressure on the media and said the following:

"We can say that these events, which have occurred one after another in a very short time, have created anxiety in society and shaken trust. Furthermore, we see that the chronic problem of detention becoming the rule rather than the exception has not been solved, even though the laws have changed. We see how meticulously decisions for detention, judicial control, and even custody—which deprive a person of their freedom even for a single day—must be made, as evidenced by acquittals and releases that come years later."

REACTION FROM THE GOVERNMENT

The criticisms from the TÜSİAD leadership drew a reaction from the government. Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç, in a post on his social media account, stated, "Let no one have any doubt that we will continue to respond in the strongest possible way within the framework of the law to any attempt to interfere with the legal order, just as we have done until today."

AKP Spokesperson Ömer Çelik had remarked, "TÜSİAD should make an effort to leave its poor track record on democracy behind."