TUSIAD chairman Omer Sabanci said comments by senior members of the organisation on the trial of Professor Yucel Askin, dean of Van University, were accurate and did not constitute criminal action, as claimed by the Prime Minister.

“TUSAID up until today has always told the truth and will continue doing so,” Sabanci said late Thursday. TUSIAD had prepared a number of reports on freedom of expression before, he said, adding that without personalising that issue that they are strongly in favour of freedom expression.

In response to criticism of the association’s call to decrease the general election threshold Sabanci stressed that the issue had been raised in ten separate speeches since 1995.

“We are not targeting any political parties,” he said. “We are aware of the importance of political stability.” In his criticism the Prime Minister also said that TUSAID was a business organisation and should only make comments on economy matter.

State prosecutors have launched an investigation into businessman Mustafa Koc for a speech he gave at TUSAID executive meeting criticising the handling of the trial against the dean of Van University. The investigation was opened after the statements by Erdogan.

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