Aussie Citizens Cut Off by Big Banks Over False Terrorism Charges

The Financial Review reports that major Australian banks, including Westpac, CBA, and ANZ, have severed ties with several Australian citizens based on unverified terrorism claims from the Turkish government. The individuals affected are mainly linked to the Gulen movement, a group that has fallen out of favor with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Despite having their names cleared by financial data firm Refinitiv, the banks have yet to reinstate these accounts. Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil condemned the foreign government’s interference, and the case has sparked calls for greater transparency in Australian banks’ debanking procedures.



Sydney, Sep 7, 2023 – Leading Australian banks, including Westpac, Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), and ANZ, have reportedly severed ties with multiple Australian citizens after false terrorism claims from the Turkish government.

Debanking Turkish Australians

According to a detailed report by Financial Review, the banks have acted on unverified accusations that the individuals are terrorists, mainly targeting those affiliated with the Gulen movement. The movement was initially allied with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan but has recently fallen out of favor.

False Accusations from Turkey

The Turkish government has accused the Gulen movement of orchestrating a failed coup in 2016, an allegation strongly denied by Fethullah Gulen, the US-based cleric who leads the movement. Despite a lack of corroborative evidence and widespread skepticism from Western governments, Erdogan’s administration has labeled the movement as the “Fethullah Terrorist Organisation (FETO).”

Financial Data Firm Involved

The banks relied on data from Refinitiv, a London Stock Exchange-owned financial data firm, to enact their so-called “know your customer” policies, resulting in the debanking of several Turkish Australians linked to the Gulen movement.

Personal Accounts

Among those affected is Mehmet Saral, President of Advocates for Dignity (AFD) and a Sydney resident who has lived in Australia since childhood. His accounts were abruptly closed after the Turkish government wrongly labeled him a terrorist. Saral has faced significant difficulties, including job loss and an inability to access his funds, even after convincing Refinitiv that he is not involved in terrorism.

No Weight on Sanctions

Although Refinitiv later updated its report to question the validity of Turkish sanctions, the Australian banks have yet to reinstate the affected accounts. Following scrutiny by the Financial Review, some banks, including CBA, have started to review their earlier decisions.

Government Involvement

The Australian government has found itself largely unable to intervene in these cases. Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil has stated that it’s unacceptable for a foreign government to target members of the Australian community in such a manner.

Call for Transparency

This incident highlights the need for greater transparency from Australian banks in their debanking procedures, a topic currently being discussed at the highest levels of government.