A deputy from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has claimed that real estate belonging to 161 foundations that were seized and subsequently closed down by the Turkish government in the aftermath of a failed coup attempt in Turkey in July 2016 was given to pro-government organizations at low prices, the aktifhaber news website reported on Tuesday.
CHP Muğla deputy Burak Erbay made these remarks during discussions on the budget of the Directorate General of Foundations in the Turkish Parliament on Thursday.
“Dormitories, buildings and land belonging to the seized foundations were transferred to the Directorate General of Foundations. The total value of these immovable properties is around TL 10 billion. Do you know what happened to these properties?” asked Erbay, claiming that they were sold by the government to pro-government foundations and individuals at prices well below market value.
The 161 foundations were closed by the Turkish government on the grounds that they had alleged links to terrorist organizations.
Erbay said some properties of the closed-down foundations were even given for free to the Service for Youth and Education Foundation of Turkey (TÜRGEV), an organization where President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s son Bilal is an executive board member.
In the aftermath of the failed coup, hundreds of schools, dormitories and foundations linked to the Gülen movement were closed down by the government as the government accuses the movement of masterminding the failed coup. The movement strongly denies any involvement.