Investigation launched into TUSIAD’s Aras over controversial remarks

The Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office initiated an ex officio investigation following the statements made by Omer Arif Aras, chairman of the high advisory council of the Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen Association (TUSIAD).

In a statement, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said: “An ex officio investigation has been launched by our office against Mehmet Omer Arif Aras, Chairman of the High Advisory Council of the Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen Association (TUSIAD), due to his remarks made during the association’s general assembly on February 13, 2025. These remarks were deemed to involve influencing and directing the judiciary in relation to certain investigations and prosecutions, as well as containing false statements that could disrupt public order, leading to charges of attempting to influence a fair trial and publicly spreading false information.”

What happened

During a regular TUSIAD general assembly meeting, a presentation included a slide titled “Extraordinary Events in Political Life,” highlighting judicial processes involving politicians, businesspeople and journalists. The slide used the phrases “Being Questioned, Arrested” and also referred to lieutenants expelled from the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) with the phrase “Being Expelled from the Army.”

Aras, in his speech, pointed out recent political events, stating: “Elected mayors are being removed from office and replaced with trustees. A political party leader is first investigated and then arrested for a different reason. A businesswoman managing several artists is also first investigated and then arrested for another reason.”

He also drew attention to the legal proceedings involving Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, mentioning that “Investigations are opened within minutes of a press conference by a major city mayor due to their statements. Journalists who published expert opinions are detained, and the editor-in-chief is arrested.”

Following the statements, Minister of Justice Yilmaz Tunc made a public statement, asserting, “Türkiye is no longer the Türkiye of the past.” Tunc emphasized that the Republic of Türkiye is a state governed by law, and no institution, organization, or interest group is above the national will.

He further stated, “We do not accept any pressure on judicial processes, and we are opposed to any attempt to influence the judiciary. While expressing opinions is a democratic right for civil society organizations, attempts to direct the judiciary and politics are contrary to the spirit of democracy and the rule of law.”

Tunc concluded, “Democracy is not just for certain groups but for the entire nation and the state. No one or no organization can place themselves above the will of the nation and the law. We will continue to respond strongly within the framework of the law to any intervention in the legal order, just as we have until now.”