Capital group targets boycott call

Following the detention of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and his arrest on corruption charges, protest demonstrations were held across the country. Citizens exercising their constitutional rights issued a call for a boycott on April 2.

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel supported the boycott call. While many ministers reacted to the boycott calls, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation.

On the other hand, capital groups also spoke with 'one voice' and targeted the boycott calls. Those who targeted the 'April 2 Consumption Boycott' are as follows:

Anatolian Lions Businessmen Association (ASKON) Chairman Orhan Aydın: "(Boycott calls) Dragging the process to this dimension and targeting the country's economy is not a stance, but rather a mental blackout."

Confederation of Turkish Tradesmen and Craftsmen (TESK) Chairman Bendevi Palandöken: "In this economic hardship, tradesmen and craftsmen trying to serve their customers should be supported, and trade should not be halted."

Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu: "Targeting companies that produce, provide employment, and invest, and boycotting them is wrong. Our companies should be kept out of political debates."

Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (İTO) President Şekib Avdagiç: "Boycott calls are wrong. Companies that are the product of Turkey's domestic and independent economy and a source of employment cannot be attacked."

Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MÜSİAD) President Mahmut Asmalı: "(The boycott call) is a clear attempt to weaken our domestic and national capital and open space for global capital."

Istanbul Chamber of Industry (İSO) President Erdal Bahçıvan: "One must be careful and sensitive regarding calls that will disrupt commercial life in our country and lead to negative consequences in production life."