Turkey freezes assets of 770 individuals and a US-based foundation

According to a decision published in the Official Gazette, the assets of 770 people in Turkey have been frozen. The decision read that the individuals in question had committed the acts covered by the articles titled "the crime of financing of terrorism" and "acts prohibited from providing or collecting funds."

Friday December 24 2021 10:13 am

Duvar English - Reuters

Turkey has frozen the assets of a total of 770 people and a U.S.-based foundation on the grounds of terrorism financing, a ruling published in its official gazette showed on Dec. 24.

Chicago-based Niagara Foundation's assets were frozen because of links with the U.S. based cleric Fethullah Gülen, widely believed to have staged a coup attempt in 2016.

The assets of more than 400 people were frozen for links to Gülen, read the decision, which was signed by Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu and Finance Minister Nureddin Nebati.

Among the 770 people was also fugitive prosecutor Zekeriya Öz -- a staunch supporter of Gülen.

This step was taken on the basis of reasonable grounds that they had committed the acts covered by the articles titled "the crime of financing of terrorism" and "acts prohibited from providing or collecting funds," it added.

Assets of more than 200 individuals accused of links to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and Islamic State militant groups were also frozen, according to the decision.