Istanbul, Oct 29 () - Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen's Association (TÜSİAD) urged that the takeover of media outlets owned by the Koza-İpek Group raises concerns for the business world and investment climate in the country, as the decision casts doubts on security of law and legitimacy of judicial processes.

“The fact that media outlets are also among the companies in question sparks concerns over press freedom, with respect to recent attacks and interventions in the media. It is our vital expectation, as the business world, that the probes would be conducted in a fast and transparent way that would not encourage arbitrariness” the written statement of TÜSİAD said.

“The proportionality of measures taken within the fight against crime and the prevention of violation of persons’ rights and dignity are a must for our Constitution and for human rights. In a state of law, just like citizens, the state is committed to the law. It is the responsibility of the state to defeat any kinds of efforts for hindering the functioning of public institutions” underlined the statement.

"Concerns over arbitrariness should be eased"

Having stressed the recent developments raised concerns for the business world, along with interventions and attacks over media institutions in the country, Turkey’s top business body called on the authorities to ease the concerns among the society over the arbitrariness of the decision to assign trustees replacing the management of the media institution.

The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has ordered the Koza-İpek Group to be placed under the management of a trustee panel while an investigation is ongoing into the group’s purported ties to the U.S.-based cleric Fetullah Gülen, a former government ally, on Oct. 26.

Istanbul police has used force on Oct. 28 to enter the headquarters and seize control of media outlets owned by the Koza-İpek Group, dramatically breaking into the main broadcasting room and shutting down two TV stations owned by the group.

Opposition party MPs, right groups condemned the raid and severe measures taken at the scene, pointing to an upsurge in pressure over media bodies critical of the government and the President Tayyip Erdoğan.