Turkish business groups slams US sanctions move

By Tuba Sahin

ANKARA

Turkish business groups on Thursday condemned the U.S. move to impose sanctions on two Turkish ministers following tension over an American pastor, who faces terrorism charges in Turkey.

"We would like it to be known that the U.S. decision is unacceptable," Turkish Industry and Business Association (TUSIAD) head Erol Bilecik said in a statement.

Bilecik said the move goes against the nature of strategic alliance and endangers the relationship between the both countries.

Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TIM) head Ismail Gulle said American Pastor Andrew Craig Brunson case is about justice, not politics.

Turkey's independent judiciary will take decisions without any discrimination, Gulle said.

Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu said the U.S. should reverse its decision.

"It is not possible to accept the decision of U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, which is against international laws and practises," Hisarciklioglu said.

Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEIK) Chairman Nail Olpak said the language of diplomacy must be imperative in Turkey-U.S. relations.

"We hope the U.S. immediately stops this unacceptable behavior and normalize the relations," Olpak said.

On Wednesday, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said the U.S. was imposing sanctions on Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu and Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul for not releasing Brunson.

Sanders said the U.S. would block "any property, or interest in property of the two ministers".

In a written statement published Wednesday, the U.S. Treasury Department said Minister of Justice Abdulhamit Gul and Minister of Interior Suleyman Soylu "played leading roles in the organizations responsible for the arrest and detention of Pastor Andrew Brunson."

According to U.S. law, those mentioned on the sanctions list will have any of their assets and properties under U.S. jurisdiction blocked and American businesses and individuals will be prohibited from engaging in financial transactions with them.

Brunson has been charged in Turkey with spying for the PKK -- a designated terrorist group in the U.S. and Turkey -- and U.S.-based Fetullah Gulen and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the defeated July 2016 coup attempt in Turkey which martyred 251 people and injured thousands.

Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.