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Open Society Foundation released a statement yesterday (November 26) and announced that it stopped its all activities in Turkey.
The foundation, among whose board of trustees and execıtive board is also arrested businessperson Osman Kavala, has recently been targeted by President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the pro-government media outlets.
Erdoğan referred to George Soros
At the 48th Village and Neighborhood Heads (Mukhtars) Meeting on November 21, President Erdoğan directed a series of accusations to Osman Kavala without mentioning his name and stated that Kavala has relations with George Soros, a businessperson from the US.
Erdoğan said, "He (Osman Kavala) is someone who financed the terrorists during Gezi incidents. He is in prison now. Who is behind him? The famous Hungarian Jew (George) Soros."
"Groundless allegations, excessive speculations"
In its statement, Open Society Foundation stated that since its establishment in 2008, the foundation has been regularly inspected and audited by the Ministry of Interior and General Directorate for Foundations.
Indicating that the news reported in the media about the foundation are "groundless allegations and excessive speculations", the foundation announced that the current situation "has made it impossible for the foundation to continue its activities."
Referring to eight main points in the statement, the foundation indicated that "there is an attempt to find a relation between the Open Society Foundation and Gezi incidents in 2013, but, it is unreal."
In the statement, the foundation also shared the details of the inspections and audits that it has gone through since its establishment.
Foundation's board of trustees and executive board
The board of trustees of the foundation consists of Nebahat Akkoç, Mustafa Akyol, İbrahim Betil, Ferhat Boratav, Üstün Ergüder, Memduh Hacıoğlu, Osman Kavala, Can Paker, Ayşe Soysal, Murat Sungar and Binnaz Toprak.
The executive board of the foundation consists of Temel İskit, Ferhat Boratav, Üstün Ergüder, Osman Kavala and Murat Sungar.
Objectives and projects of the foundation
Open Society Foundation was engaging in activities that would contribute to Turkey to become a society which is more sensitive and open to human rights, democracy and universal values.
Its primary fields of interest were the EU accession process of Turkey, reform, women's rights, education, elimination of regional differences and strengthening of civil society. (HK/SD)