In a recent decision published in the Official Gazette, Turkey has frozen the local assets of 20 organisations and 62 individuals based in various European countries, Australia, and Japan over alleged ties with the Kurdish militant group PKK.
The Ministry of Treasury and Finance in Turkey cited “reasonable grounds” for their decision, claiming that the targeted entities had committed acts falling within the scope of the law on preventing the financing of terrorism.
Among the affected organizations, there were three each from Germany and Switzerland, two each from Australia, Japan, and Italy. The list also extended to Austria, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Denmark, France, Sweden, Norway, and Iraq-Syria.
One notable inclusion on the list was the Insamlingsstiftelsen Kurdiska Roda Solen from Sweden, a humanitarian aid organization according to its social media accounts.
This move comes at a time when Turkey has been raising objections to Sweden’s NATO ratification, criticizing the Nordic nation’s protection of individuals deemed as terrorists by Turkey, as well as their defense trade embargoes. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has been actively working on Sweden’s NATO ratification, with a likely timeline of before year-end for the Nordic country to formally join the alliance.
The decision reflects the ongoing tensions surrounding the PKK, which is considered a terrorist group by the European Union and the United States.
It’s an intriguing development that showcases the complex diplomatic relations and security concerns prevalent in the international landscape. The influence of these decisions goes beyond immediate financial implications, hinting at the geopolitical intricacies at play. This decision is bound to have far-reaching repercussions, shaping the interactions between nations and transnational organizations for the foreseeable future.
This decision is likely to spark robust discussions and debates among experts, policymakers, and members of the public. It introduces an additional layer of complexity to the ongoing conversations surrounding security, terrorism, and international cooperation.
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey froze the local assets of 20 organisations and 62 individuals based in various European countries, Australia and Japan, citing alleged ties with Kurdish militant group PKK, a decision published in the Official Gazette showed on Wednesday.
Turkey’s Ministry of Treasury and Finance said the decision was “based on the existence of reasonable grounds” that they committed acts falling within the scope of the law on preventing the financing of terrorism.
The list included 3 organisations each from Germany and Switzerland, where there is a large Kurdish diaspora. It also named 2 organisations each from Australia, Japan and Italy.
Other affected organizations spanned across Austria, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Denmark, France, Sweden, Norway, Iraq-Syria.
SWEDEN’S NATO RATIFICATION
The list included one organisation from Sweden, namely the Insamlingsstiftelsen Kurdiska Roda Solen, whose social media accounts say is a humanitarian aid organization.
Both Sweden and Finland requested to join NATO in May last year following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan raised objections at the time to both requests over what he said was the Nordic nations’ protection of those whom Turkey deems terrorists, as well as their defence trade embargoes. Turkey endorsed Finland’s bid in April, but has kept Sweden waiting.
Turkey has demanded that Sweden take more steps to rein in local members of the Kurdistan Workers’ party (PKK), which is considered a terrorist group by the European Union and the United States.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told NATO counterparts on Tuesday he was working hard on Sweden’s NATO ratification which is currently being debated by the Turkish parliament and provided a likely timeline of before year-end for the Nordic country to formally join the alliance, a senior State Department official said.
(Reporting by Ece Toksabay; editing by Miral Fahmy)
Olivia Carter revs up excitement in the world of NASCAR. As a dedicated motorsports enthusiast, she covers race results, driver profiles, and the latest developments in the NASCAR world, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.
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