However, following an unsuccessful coup in 2016, Erdogan initiated a widespread crackdown. Following his re-election with increased powers, the economy faltered and the lira plummeted. As cronyism and authoritarianism become more prevalent in his administration, Turks are voting with their feet, leaving the country in large numbers. Government data and analysts suggest a significant and concerning lack of confidence in Erdogan's leadership, as students, academics, entrepreneurs, businesspeople, and wealthy individuals are all leaving, taking their talent and capital with them. Merve Bayindir, a hat designer, announced that she was closing her business in Istanbul and relocating it to London, stating, "We are selling everything." According to the Turkish Institute of Statistics, over a quarter of a million Turks emigrated in 2017, a significant increase from the previous year. Analysts believe this exodus could have long-lasting effects on Turkish society, with some fearing it may set the country back decades. Ibrahim Sirkeci, director of transnational studies at Regent’s University in London, described the situation as a real brain drain. The departure of people, talent, and capital is being driven by a combination of factors that have become characteristic of life under Erdogan and are believed by his opponents to be permanent. These factors include fear of political persecution, terrorism, a growing lack of trust in the judiciary and the unpredictability of the rule of law, and a worsening business environment, exacerbated by concerns that Erdogan is using economic management for his own benefit and that of his inner circle. This has led to a significant shift in Turkey's social and economic landscape, with many from the traditional wealthy class, particularly the secular elite who have long been influential in Turkey's cultural and business sectors, leaving the country, while those close to Erdogan and his party are rising in prominence. One individual making this move is Merve Bayindir, a 38-year-old hat designer who is relocating to London after achieving success in Istanbul's Nisantasi district. She recently returned to Istanbul to close her business and sell her family's home. Protesters who took part in the June 2013 demonstrations in Taksim Square in Istanbul faced harassment and persecution, leading many to leave Turkey. One of the participants, Bayindir, was deeply affected by the violence and continues to feel fearful in her own city. Numerous individuals faced harassment and persecution in Turkey, leading many to leave the country. Erdogan criticized the protesters, causing more to flee after facing arrests and harassment. Bayindir expressed the difficulty of dealing with discrimination, anger, and violence in Turkey. Many Turks, including Bayindir, have sought business visas in Britain or golden visa programs in Greece, Portugal, and Spain. There has been a significant increase in asylum applications in Europe by Turks in recent years, according to Sirkeci, a researcher of Turkish migration to Britain. He believes that 10,000 Turks have utilized a business visa program to relocate to Britain in recent years, with a significant increase in applications since the beginning of 2016. This number is twice the amount seen from 2004 to 2015. Following the coup attempt, applications for political asylum by Turkish citizens in Britain tripled in the six months after the event, and increased sixfold among those applying for asylum in Germany. Data from the UN refugee agency indicated that the global number of Turks seeking asylum rose by 10,000 in 2017 to over 33,000. Many of those fleeing are followers of Fethullah Gulen, the preacher based in Pennsylvania who is accused of orchestrating the 2016 coup, or individuals accused of being his followers based on weak evidence. After the coup, a large number of teachers and academics were fired from their positions, including those who had signed a peace petition urging the government to end military action in Kurdish cities. Many of those affected have sought employment overseas. President Erdogan's efforts to make Turkey more conservative and religious have led to a shift in the country's economic landscape, with a growing middle class and a select group of elites who owe their success to him. According to Bekir Agirdir, director of the Konda polling company, the flight of capital and talent is a deliberate move by Erdogan to reshape society. The government has supported new businesses through subsidies and favorable contracts, leading to the rapid replacement of older establishments. "He stated that there is a shift of assets occurring, which he described as social and political manipulation." Ilker Birbil, a mathematician who is facing charges for signing a peace petition and has moved from Turkey to work at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, expressed concern that the country is experiencing a permanent loss of its citizens. He emphasized that those leaving have no intention of returning due to the polarized political environment in Turkey, which is a troubling development for the nation. Additionally, Erhan Erkut, a co-founder of MEF University in Istanbul, noted that students are feeling hopeless about initiating change partly because they have only known Erdogan as their leader for the past 17 years." "He mentioned that this is the only government they have experienced; they are unaware of other possibilities. Families are establishing businesses overseas for their children to inherit, as noted by Sirkeci from Regent's University. Many students at his private university also fall into this category. According to the Global Wealth Migration Review by AfrAsia Bank, around 12,000 of Turkey's millionaires, representing about 12 percent of the wealthy population, transferred their assets out of the country in 2016 and 2017. The report indicated that most of them relocated to Europe or the United Arab Emirates. Istanbul, Turkey's largest business hub, was identified as one of the top seven cities globally witnessing an outflow of affluent individuals." The report states that throughout history, major country collapses have been preceded by a migration of wealthy individuals leaving that country. Erdogan has criticized businesspeople who have moved their assets abroad as the Turkish economy struggles. He warned them in a speech at a business association in Istanbul that they would not be forgiven. Erdogan also mentioned that this behavior cannot be justified, as reports indicate that some of Turkey's largest companies are withdrawing investments from the country. Many companies have transferred large amounts of money overseas due to concerns of being targeted after the coup or as the economy declined. One example is Yildiz Holding, a Turkish food company, which faced backlash on social media for alleged ties to Gulen's movement. In response, Yildiz restructured $7 billion of debt and sold shares of its Turkish biscuit maker, Ulker, to its London-based holding company, moving the family's controlling stake out of the reach of Turkish courts. According to Mehmet Gun, a lawyer in Istanbul, billions of dollars have left Turkey in recent years as people felt threatened, especially after the coup attempt. Similarly, designer Bayindir began relocating her company to London two years ago. In Turkey, she used to have six employees and a store, but now she creates and produces hats on her own in a rented workshop in London. Despite feeling that she would have been more successful if she had stayed in Istanbul, she decided to leave due to the increasing tension in Turkey. She is concerned about the possibility of conflict between supporters of Erdogan and their critics. She mentioned that when she returns to Istanbul now, it feels like a different city with a lack of vitality. She appears exhausted. It is significant that I do not want to be here, as I am someone who is enamored with the city.