Turkish authorities have seized 879 firms since 2016 failed coup

Safety helmets are seen at the construction site of a new office building in Istanbul's business district of Sisli, Turkey, May 24, 2017. (Photo by Reuters)

Turkey's Savings and Deposits Insurance Fund (TMSF) says authorities have seized or appointed an administrator to some 879 firms worth 40.3 billion lira (about $11.32 billion) in assets in the eight months since the July 2016 coup attempt.

The TMSF, which runs the seized companies, said in its quarterly report that about 45,000 people were working for the firms.

According to the report, a total of 147 media firms were closed during the same period.

Ankara has taken control of a bank, various media companies and other enterprises as part of a crackdown on firms suspected of having links to supporters of Fethullah Gulen, a US-based cleric who is accused by the Turkish government of masterminding the failed coup against Ankara. Gulen denies the accusation.

Laborers work at the construction site of a new office building at the business and financial district of Levent in Istanbul, Turkey, May 24, 2017. (Photo by Reuters)

Turkish officials say over 240 people were killed and more than 2,100 others injured in the failed coup, which was swiftly put down as tens of thousands of people flooded the streets across Turkey in support of the government.

The US-based figure is also accused of being behind a long-running campaign to topple the government via infiltrating the country’s institutions, particularly the army, police and the judiciary.

Turkey has also outlawed the Gulen movement, branding it as “Fethullah Terrorist Organization.”

Ankara has so far arrested 50,000 people and sacked or suspended some 150,000 others, including military personnel, judges and teachers, over suspected links to Gulen, as part of the post-coup crackdown.

Many rights groups have denounced Ankara’s heavy clampdown.

Turkey remains in a state of emergency since the coup.