How Banker's Conviction Strains U.S.-Turkey Ties: QuickTake Q&A

The conviction in a U.S. court of Mehmet Hakan Atilla, former head of international banking at state-owned Halkbank, may cause more trouble for the lender and further strain relations between Turkey and the U.S. The trial in Manhattan sparked vehement protests from the administration of Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who accused U.S. officials of trying to harm his country’s national and economic interests and furthering the agenda of his opponents. He labeled the prosecution nothing short of an "international coup attempt."

The conviction of Hakan Atilla, for helping Iran evade U.S. financial sanctions, is an “unjust and unfortunate” development and an intervention by U.S. courts in Turkey’s domestic affairs, according to a statement by Turkey’s foreign ministry. Deputy Prime Minister Recep Akdag said the evidence used in the court proceedings “was fabricated” by supporters of Fethullah Gulen, the elderly Muslim cleric who’s been based in the U.S. since 1999 and who is blamed by Turkish authorities for the 2016 coup attempt against Erdogan. Erdogan, on Friday, said the case was "full of contradictions" and called on the U.S. to review its "sense of justice".