However, following an unsuccessful coup in 2016, Erdogan initiated a widespread crackdown. In the aftermath of his re-election with increased powers, the economy experienced instability and the lira depreciated. As cronyism and authoritarianism become more prevalent within his government, Turks are expressing their discontent by leaving the country in large numbers, taking their skills and resources with them. This trend, as indicated by government data and experts, suggests a significant and concerning lack of confidence in Erdogan's leadership. Over the past few years, not only have students and academics emigrated, but also entrepreneurs, business owners, and many wealthy individuals who are liquidating their assets and relocating their families and finances abroad. Merve Bayindir, a hat designer, stated that she was selling all her belongings after shutting down her business in Istanbul and relocating it to London, as reported by The New York Times. According to the Turkish Institute of Statistics, over 250,000 Turks emigrated in 2017, marking a 42 percent increase from 2016 when almost 178,000 citizens left the country. This emigration trend is viewed as a significant societal shift that could have long-lasting effects on Turkey, with experts like Ibrahim Sirkeci from Regent's University in London warning of a potential setback for the country. Sirkeci emphasized the reality of the brain drain phenomenon. The departure of individuals, talent, and money is being propelled by a combination of factors that have become synonymous with life under Erdogan. Critics believe these factors, which include fear of persecution, terrorism, a lack of trust in the judicial system, and economic concerns exacerbated by suspicions of Erdogan's self-serving economic management, are here to stay. As a result, many wealthy individuals, particularly the secular elite who have long been influential in Turkey, are leaving the country for the first time in its nearly century-long history. Meanwhile, those close to Erdogan and his party are rising to take their place. One such individual is Merve Bayindir, a hat designer from Istanbul, who is relocating to London. She described the process of selling her business and home before leaving the country. Protesters who took part in the demonstrations in Taksim Square in Istanbul in June 2013 faced harassment and persecution, leading many to leave Turkey. One of the participants, Bayindir, still feels traumatized by the violence and experiences fear in her own city. Many individuals faced harassment and persecution in Turkey, leading them to leave the country. Erdogan criticized the protesters and many were arrested or harassed before leaving. Discrimination, cultural and personal, along with anger and violence, made the situation unbearable for many. Thousands, including Bayindir, have sought business visas in Britain or golden visa programmes in Greece, Portugal, and Spain. The number of Turks applying for asylum in Europe has also significantly increased in the last three years, according to Sirkeci, who has researched Turkish migration to Britain for 25 years. He believes that 10,000 Turkish individuals have utilized a business visa program to relocate to the United Kingdom in recent years, with a significant increase in applications since the start of 2016. This number is twice as many as the years 2004 to 2015. The number of Turkish citizens seeking political asylum in the UK tripled in the six months following the coup attempt, and increased sixfold in Germany, based on information from the UN refugee agency. The global number of Turkish asylum seekers rose by 10,000 in 2017 to over 33,000. Many of those fleeing are supporters 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. Tens of thousands of teachers and academics lost their jobs following the coup, with many being dismissed for signing a peace petition urging the government to end military actions in Kurdish areas and resume peace talks. Hundreds have sought employment overseas. Erdogan has aimed to make Turkey more conservative and religious, with a growing middle class and a select group of elites who owe their economic success to him. According to Bekir Agirdir, director of Konda polling company, the flight of capital and talent is a deliberate effort by Erdogan to reshape society. The government's support for new businesses, through subsidies and contracts, has led to the rapid replacement of older businesses. “There is a shift of wealth happening,” he stated. “It involves societal and political restructuring.” Ilker Birbil, a mathematician facing charges for supporting the peace petition and relocating to Utrecht University in the Netherlands, cautioned that Turkey was experiencing a permanent loss of its citizens. Birbil stated that those who are leaving have no intention of returning, pointing to the divided political environment in the nation. “This is a cause for concern in Turkey.” “I have been inundated with emails from students and acquaintances looking to leave Turkey,” he added. Erhan Erkut, a co-founder of MEF University in Istanbul, which focuses on teaching innovation and entrepreneurship, noted that students feel hopeless about change due to Erdogan's long-standing presidency of 17 years. Sirkeci from Regent's University said that many families in Turkey are only familiar with the current government and are unaware of other possibilities. He also mentioned that families are starting businesses in other countries for their children to take over in the future. According to the Global Wealth Migration Review by AfrAsia Bank, around 12 percent of Turkey's millionaires moved their assets out of the country in 2016 and 2017, with most of them relocating to Europe or the United Arab Emirates. Istanbul, Turkey's largest business center, was among the top seven cities worldwide seeing an increase in wealthy individuals leaving. The report mentioned that throughout history, major country collapses have been preceded by the migration of wealthy individuals out of the country. Erdogan has criticized businesspeople who have moved their assets abroad as the Turkish economy struggles, warning them that they will not be forgiven. He made these remarks at a business association event in Istanbul, stating that the nation's people would hold them accountable in this life and the next. Erdogan also expressed disbelief at this behavior, particularly as reports surfaced of Turkey's largest companies divesting in the country. Several companies have moved a significant amount of money overseas due to concerns about being targeted in the aftermath of a coup or during an economic downturn. 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 transferred majority shares of Ulker, a Turkish biscuit maker, to its London-based holding company to protect them from Turkish courts. According to Mehmet Gun, the owner of a law firm in Istanbul, billions of dollars have left Turkey in recent years out of fear following 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 showroom, but now she creates and produces hats on her own in a rented studio in London. She mentioned that she could have remained in Istanbul where she would have had a better life. However, the situation in Turkey had become so stressful that she was concerned about potential civil unrest or even civil war between supporters of Erdogan and their adversaries. She observed that Istanbul had changed significantly and no longer had the same vibrancy as before. She appears exhausted. It is significant for me to not want to be here, as I am someone who truly adores the city.