CHP leader attempts to 'visit' military firm close to Erdoğan, says it threatens election security

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Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu today (May 13) visited the headquarters of SADAT, a private military contractor with close ties to the government, in Beylikdüzü, İstanbul.

After he was not let in the building, Kılıçdaroğlu spoke to reporters in front of the company.

Pointing out the relationship between Adnan Tanrıverdi, a retired brigadier general and the founder of SADAT, and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Kılıçdaroğlu said, "Turkey will never be handed over to paramilitary organizations."

"I want to draw the attention of the public that [they give] unconventional warfare training. Like sabotage, raids, assassination, ambush and terror. This is an organization that trains terrorists," he remarked.

If anything that "casts a shadow on the election" happens, the government and SADAT will be responsible for that, he added.

SADAT also played a part in millions of refugees coming from Syria, Kılıçdaroğlu further claimed.

Tanrıverdi was a senior advisor to the president between 2016 and early 2020.

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About SADAT

SADAT Inc. is a military consulting firm based in Turkey. It was founded on February 28, 2012, by retired Brigadier General Adnan Tanrıverdi.

The mission stated by the company is "to establish a Defense Collaboration and Defense Industry Cooperation among Islamic Countries to help Islamic World take the place where it merits among Superpowers by providing Strategic Consultancy, Defense and Security Training and Supply Services to Armed Forces and Internal Security Forces of Islamic Countries."

The company states that it provides services such as military and internal training, defense consultancy, and ammunition purchase in the international arena.

Among the courses of the company, titles such as "Unconventional Warfare (counter-guerrilla)" and "Sharpshooting" draw attention. There are training packages such as "Land Operations", "Sharpshooting", "Protection", "Demolition", "Unconventional Warfare", "Forward Single Man Combat", "Artillery and Mortar Forward Surveillance", "Tank / Armored Vehicle Hunting."

Who works for it? According to reports in the media, the company employs between 50 and 200 retired Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) officers from various branches and specialties.

The company's services include consultancy, training, conventional military training, unconventional military training, special forces training, and army equipment, says its website.

SADAT Inc. has a sibling organization called ASSAM (Justice Defenders Strategic Studies Center), which has a more political focus, and was also founded by Tanrıverdi. ASSAM operates a "strategic research center" and hosts annual contracts.

Allegations

İYİ (Good) Party Chair Meral Akşener said in early 2018 that she had heard about the establishment of armed training camps in Konya and Tokat, and asked for an investigation.

It was previously claimed that 2,800 people had received "unconventional warfare" or "guerrilla training" in the training camps opened by SADAT in various places, which Akşener pointed out and demanded measures be taken.

SADAT was also on the agenda with the allegations that it had helped the Free Syrian Army during the Afrin operation in 2018 and that it went out on the streets and clashed with the soldiers during the coup attempt in 2016. It was also widely discussed that a statutory decree (KHK) was issued for SADAT, which brings judicial immunity to civilians.

Tanrıverdi had explained why they had founded SADAT as; "TSK provides training, consultancy, and equipment services to 22 Turkish and Muslim countries. But it is not possible for 60 Islamic countries to meet all their needs in the field of defense. They foresee that they will meet this need, and we do this with the support of 64 officers and non-commissioned officers, respecting the religious sensitivities of Islamic countries."

(HA/VK)