Turkey has ordered the seizure of the assets of 187 businessmen suspected of links to the Hizmet Movement and Fethullah Gülen.
Police launched a large-scale operation in the country’s economic capital of Istanbul and other provinces on companies owned by businessmen suspected of links to Turkish Islamic scholar Gülen, the biggest crackdown on business since the failed putsch on July 15.
Prosecutors issued arrest warrants for 187 suspects including the CEOs of leading companies, with the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor’s Office ordering the seizure of their assets.
Sixty of the suspects were detained, the private Doğan news agency reported.
In a similar operation earlier this week, police raided dozens of companies in Istanbul and detained some 100 people.
Local media said approximately 1,000 police officers took part in raids at 204 locations in 18 provinces, which included simultaneous operations at around 100 addresses in several districts of Istanbul.
The raids targeted major companies such as ready-to-wear retailer the Aydınlı group, the Güllüoğlu Baklava group, Boydak Holding and fashion company Eroğlu Holding.
The suspects are accused of “membership in a terrorist organization” and “financing the activities” of Gülen.