PHOTO: President Erdoğan in front of business and financial executives on Thursday


Having launched a purge of Turkey’s State institutions, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is now turning his attention to the business community.

Erdoğan told the heads of business chambers and financial networks in Ankara on Thursday that some of their members had supported the July 15 coup attempt and the organization of self-exiled cleric Fethullah Gülen.

The ones who were arrested until now from this network are just the tip of the iceberg. The work for the others is underway.

For sure, there is a business pillar of this organization. This may be where they are the strongest. As a rule, unless there is financing, no project can be realized. We are determined to cut all the links of this organization within the business world.

The President assured that those who “financed the shooters” would be treated like the coup plotters themselves.

See also Turkey Feature: Erdogan — “I Am Sorry I Helped Gülen Organization”

After the failed coup, Erdoğan moved swiftly against State organizations. More than 60,000 personnel were detained or suspended in the military, the judiciary, education and universities, and the civil services. Scores of media outlets have been banned and journalists arrested.

The President has moved to bring the military under his office’s control, as 149 generals and admirals — 42% of the total in the armed forces — have been dismissed. Military academies have been closed, with Erdoğan promising a National Defense University, and the branches of the armed forces have been put under civilian agencies.

Erdoğan is also seeking to confirm his control over the national intelligence service (MIT), saying that it failed to do its duty in warning of the coup attempt.

Erdoğan: “We Will Not Forgive Anyone”

Addressing the business executives, the President repeated his line from Wednesday asking forgiveness for not recognizing the danger of his former ally Gülen:

I feel sad that I failed to reveal the true face of this traitorous organization long before. I know that we have to give account both to our God and to our people. Let my God and my people forgive us.

Gülen was a leading supporter as Erdoğan took the Prime Minister’s post in 2003 and the ruling AKP consolidated power. The two men split in 2013 amid allegations of corruption within the Government.

The President told the audience, “We will not forgive anyone who financed even one bullet which was shot by this organization.”