Trade Ministry files suit for closure of Osman Kavala's Anadolu Kültür

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The Trade Ministry has filed a lawsuit demanding the dissolution of Anadolu Kültür, a cultural institution founded and headed by Osman Kavala, an imprisoned businessperson and rights defender.

Stating that the company is carrying out operations without a profit purpose like associations and foundations, the ministry alleged that this was "against public order or the field of operation of the business" as per article 210 of the Turkish Commercial Code.

Releasing a statement, Anadolu Kültür company said the lawsuit was the continuation of the "unlawfulness" against Kavala.

This was the first lawsuit filed on the grounds of "operating in a similar way to associations and foundations" in Turkey's history, it noted.

The company said all of its operations had been legal and transparent since its foundation in 2002 and the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) and the ministry had not found any offenses regarding its operations.

After the MASAK did not find any wrongdoing in an inquiry into the company as part of an investigation concerning the 2013 Gezi Park protests, for which Kavala is charged with "attempted overthrow," it requested the Trade Ministry to investigate whether Anadolu Kültür's activities could be considered as company operations, says the statement.

After the inquiry, the ministry concluded that the company was founded for economic purposes but made most of its income through donations and grants by people and organizations from Turkey and abroad, according to Anadolu Kültür's statement.

"The dissolution case filed against our company is based on a biased and purposeful examination report," said the company.

"The case that the ministry filed is an admission in itself that the administrative authority is not used for the public benefit and there is arbitrariness.

"The case, which is the first case with this demand in the history of the Republic of Turkey has become one of the important examples of instrumentalization of law in Turkey and referred to as such from now on." (HA/VK)