Turkey freezes assets of individuals and organizations for allegedly funding terrorism News
© WikiMedia (David Stanley)
Turkey freezes assets of individuals and organizations for allegedly funding terrorism

The Turkish Ministry of Treasury and Finance froze the assets of over 770 individuals and organizations Friday on the grounds that they were providing terrorist financing, according to a ruling published in Turkey’s official gazette—Resmî Gazete.

Among the individuals sanctioned were 454 members of what the Turkish government calls FETO, the Fethullah Terrorist Organization or the Gulen Movement, which was behind the failed 2016 coup attempt in Turkey.

Additionally, the government froze the assets of 108 members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), 119 people accused of being part of terrorist organizations that exploit religion, and 89 people accused of being part of left-wing terrorist organizations. The list also included US-based Niagara Foundation, a non-profit organization whose honorary president is Fethullah Gulen.

The decision was made under the authority of law 6415 for the prevention of financing terrorism. The individuals and organizations are accused on the existence of reasonable grounds that they have committed the offense of collecting or providing funds to finance terrorism.

Those whose assets have been frozen can appeal the decision to the Ankara Heavy Penal Court. The decision was executed by Treasury and Finance Minister Nureddin Nebati and signed by Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu.