Erdogan: American Courts Cannot Prosecute Turkey

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the President of Turkey, on Saturday, December 2, referred to the trial of a senior banking official from Turkey for circumventing U.S. sanctions against Iran, stating that American courts cannot prosecute Turkey. According to Reuters, relations between the U.S. and Turkey have soured in recent weeks due to the trial of Reza Zarrab and a Turkish banking official for collaborating with Iran to bypass U.S. sanctions. Reza Zarrab, an Iranian-Turkish gold trader who is currently cooperating with U.S. prosecutors, testified in court that senior Turkish government officials were aware of and approved these activities. He stated in court on Thursday that Erdogan, during his time as Prime Minister, personally confirmed the involvement of two Turkish banks in these actions. The Ankara government claims that this trial is an effort by the U.S. government to weaken Turkey and its economy. Ankara has previously emphasized that this matter is a 'clear conspiracy' by the network of Fethullah Gülen, whom Turkey accuses of orchestrating last year's failed coup. Reuters has been unable to obtain a response from Turkish government ministers who have been accused by Zarrab of involvement in this matter. The Turkish government has repeatedly requested the extradition of Fethullah Gülen from the U.S. However, U.S. officials state that substantial evidence must be presented to American judicial authorities for the extradition order of this elderly cleric. Gülen has denied any involvement in last year's coup in Turkey. Erdogan, who has ruled Turkey for about 15 years, stated on Saturday at a meeting of members of the Justice and Development Party in a northeastern city that American courts 'can never prosecute our country.' Although Erdogan has not yet responded to the evidence and claims presented in the U.S. court, he has consistently asserted that this case has political motivations and aims to overthrow the Turkish government. The Turkish state news agency reported on Friday that the Turkish prosecutor's office will seize the assets of Zarrab and his associates. Reuters adds that the Turkish government has increased pressure on the U.S., and on Friday, the Turkish state news agency quoted Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu as saying that supporters of Fethullah Gülen have infiltrated the judiciary, Congress, and other government institutions in the U.S. The U.S. claims that its judicial institutions operate independently of any political influence. Since the failed coup last summer, more than 150,000 employees of government institutions have been dismissed or suspended, and about 50,000 personnel from the armed forces and public and private institutions have been imprisoned. In another action that could harm Ankara-Washington relations, the Turkish prosecutor's office issued an arrest warrant for Graham Fuller, a former CIA officer, for his connections with the coup plotters. Human rights groups and Turkey's Western allies have expressed concern about Erdogan's government's abuse of the post-coup situation to suppress dissent. However, the Turkish government argues that these widespread arrests are necessary given the dangers and threats it faces.