Turkey probes business group official after criticism of opposition crackdown
ISTANBUL, Feb 14 (Reuters) - The Istanbul chief prosecutor's office said on Friday it launched an investigation into a top official at Turkey's main business group TUSIAD who had criticised a recent judicial crackdown on opposition leaders and journalists.
In a statement, the office said it was probing remarks by Omer Aras, the head of TUSIAD's high advisory council, over potentially attempting to influence a fair trial, manipulating the judiciary and disseminating false information.
The move expands a series of legal steps by authorities over the last few months to a private sector group whose members account for 85% of Turkey's foreign trade and 80% of corporate tax revenue.
TUSIAD did not immediately comment on the probe.
At TUSIAD's monthly general assembly on Thursday, Aras had said that judicial investigations into opposition political figures had created concern in society and damaged democracy.
"We cannot say whether a crime is committed...," Aras said. "However, we can say that recent incidents that come one after another in a very short time create concern in society and shake trust".
In response, Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc had said that although everyone is free to express views, any criticism meant to steer the judiciary or politics is against the spirit of democracy and rule of law.
"No one or organization can see themselves above the will of the people and the law ... We will respond in the strongest way possible within the framework of the law ... to any attempt to interfere with the legal order," Tunc said.
Opposition politicians have faced a series of legal probes, detentions and arrests in what critics say is a government effort to muzzle dissent and hurt their electoral prospects.
The European Parliament on Thursday condemned the legal actions against opposition mayors as a "disregard of the rule of law and the government's violation of the fundamental principles of democracy".
Turkey's government dismisses accusations of political interference in the cases and says the judiciary is independent.
Most recently, on Tuesday, Turkish police detained nine district municipal council members from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) on terrorism-related charges.
Authorities previously arrested a far-right party leader and charged CHP officials with targeting public figures. Several pro-Kurdish DEM mayors have been removed from their posts over convictions on terrorism-related offences.
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