Turkey imposes travel ban on business leaders amid judicial independence probe

An Istanbul court has imposed an international travel ban on Orhan Turan and Omer Aras, top executives of Turkey's influential business association TUSIAD, following their critical remarks regarding the government's crackdown on dissent and judicial independence. The two were questioned by prosecutors who charged them with 'attempting to influence a fair trial' and 'publicly spreading misleading information' after President Erdogan accused them of meddling in politics. Their criticisms during a TUSIAD meeting highlighted concerns over the recent arrests of opposition figures and the erosion of trust in the rule of law in Turkey. The travel ban reflects growing tensions between the government and business leaders, as TUSIAD represents a significant portion of Turkey's economy. Erdogan's administration has increasingly targeted critics, with many seeing the arrests as politically motivated. TUSIAD emphasized that lasting economic development requires a foundation of human rights and legal integrity.