103 soldiers arrested in Turkey for allegedly having link to Ferthullah Gullen

About 103 soldiers have been arrested by the Turkish government for allegedly having links with US based Muslim cleric, Ferthullah Gullen.

Gullen is being accused of orchestrating the 2016 failed coup against President Ruyep Erdogan.

Turkish prosecutors ordered the detention on Friday, in what is a continuation of Police regular sweeps against alleged supporters of the preacher, Fethullah Gulen since the coup attempt of July 2016, in which 250 people were killed.

Gulen denies involvement in the attempted coup.

In the latest operation, in Istanbul and 31 other provinces, police have so far detained 74 people.

Read also: Death toll rises to 7 as tropical storm Florence is predicted to batter eastern US states for days

The 103 suspects, all on active service, included colonels and lieutenant colonels, it said, adding that an investigation had shown they had communicated over fixed-line and pay telephones.

Authorities say members of the alleged Gulen network communicated via payphones.

Turkey’s Western allies have criticised the crackdown, which mostly took place under a state of emergency declared shortly after the coup attempt and remained in effect until July 2018.

The attempt was carried out by a faction within the Turkish Armed Forces that organised themselves as the Peace at Home Council. They attempted to seize control of several key places in Ankara, Istanbul, and elsewhere, but failed to do so after forces loyal to the state defeated them.

The government accused the coup leaders of being links to the Gülen movement, which is designated as a terrorist organisation by Turkey.

Mass arrests followed, with at least 40,000 detained, including at least 10,000 soldiers and 2,745 judges.

15,000 education staff were also suspended and the licenses of 21,000 teachers working at private institutions were revoked as well after the government alleged they were loyal to Gülen.

More than 77,000 people have been arrested and over 160,000 fired from their jobs, on accusations of connections to Gülen.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now