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Timeline Gulen movement/FETÖ March 2018
 
January February March April
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September October November December
 
1 - 10 March
Date:*  

1
42 detained in Elazığ-based operation due to alleged Gülen links

Turkish police teams on Thursday detained 42 out of 53 people for whom detention warrants were issued as part of an out of Elazığ due to their alleged links to the faith-based Gülen movement.

The detentions took place across 23 provinces including Elazığ following simultaneous police raids.

The detention warrants were issued by the Elazığ Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. The suspects are reportedly staff members who used to work for Gülen-linked schools and prep schools that were closed down in the aftermath of a failed coup on July 15, 2016. Source

1
Turkish Gov’t Detains Dozens Of Teachers, Sentences Gülen Relative Over Links To Gülen Movement

The Turkish government detained dozens of people, mostly teachers, across Turkey on Thursday as part of its massive post-coup witch hunt targeting alleged members of the Gülen movement.

Turkish police teams detained 42 teachers out of the 53 for whom detention warrants were issued by the Elazığ Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office as part of an investigation into suspected members of the movement. The detentions took place in 23 provinces including Elazığ following simultaneous police raids.

The detainees are reportedly staff members who used to work for schools and prep schools that were closed down in the aftermath of a failed coup on July 15, 2016 over their alleged affiliation with the Gülen movement. Read the full article

2
Turkish navy chief’s bodyguard arrested over FETÖ links 

A bodyguard of Turkish Commander of the Naval Forces Vice-Admiral Adnan Özbal was arrested on March 1 over alleged terror links, state-run Anadolu Agency reported, citing judicial sources. 

The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, said Sergeant Rıza Asal was arrested in Istanbul as part of an investigation into the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) structure in the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK).  He was produced in a court which remanded him into custody.  Asal was part of the security detail for Özbal, the sources added. 

Separately, as part of an investigation in Istanbul, 41 suspects, including some on-duty soldiers, were arrested for being part of the FETÖ structure in the Turkish Armed Forces and communicating with other FETÖ members using payphones, the sources said.   They appeared in a court which ordered 39 suspects to be remanded into custody. 

Last week, 42 other suspects were also remanded into custody as part of the investigation. Also on March 1, a suspect in the western Bursa province and another in the western Muğla province were remanded in custody over links to FETÖ, the sources said. Source 

2
Detention warrants issued for 197 over alleged Gülen links

The Ankara and İzmir chief public prosecutor’s offices on Friday issued detention warrants for 197 people, including police officers, military personnel, teachers and executives of the Aksiyon-İş union as part of an investigation into the faith-based Gülen movement, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.

The Turkish Interior Ministry announced on Monday that 646 people have been detained in the past week due to alleged links to the Gülen movement. Source

3
25 gendarmerie officers detained over alleged Gülen links

Turkish police on Saturday detained 25 gendarmerie officers including some who had previously been suspended over alleged links to the faith-based Gülen movement as part of an investigation launched by the Bilecik Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.

The Ankara and İzmir chief public prosecutor’s offices on Friday issued detention warrants for 197 people, including police officers, military personnel, teachers and executives of the Aksiyon-İş union, in an investigation into the Gülen movement. Read the full article

5

Turkish police detain 765 in one week over alleged Gülen links

The Turkish Interior Ministry announced on Monday that 765 people have been detained in the past week due to alleged links to the faith-based Gülen movement, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.

The Interior Ministry announced on Feb. 26 that 646 people had been taken into custody the previous week due to alleged links to the movement.

Turkish police detained a total of 4,725 people over alleged links to the movement in the first two months of 2018. Read the full article

6
Court gives life sentences to 65 ex-soldiers for involvement in Turkey’s coup attempt

An Ankara court on March 6 handed life sentences to 65 former soldiers for their actions at the Turkish Naval Forces Command during the July 2016 coup attempt. Two rear admirals were among the former servicemen convicted of “violating the constitutional order” by the Ankara 13th Heavy Penal Court, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

Some 47 of the suspects received aggravated life sentences for their role in the coup, widely believed to have been orchestrated by the movement of U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen.

Ankara also accuses what it calls the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of state institutions including the military, the police and the judiciary. Source
6

65 defendants from Naval Forces Command receive life sentences in coup trial

A high criminal court in Ankara has handed down aggravated life sentences to 47 defendants and life sentences to 18 defendants from the Naval Forces Command in a trial concerning a coup attempt in Turkey on July 15, 2016.

The trial of the 73 defendants involving incidents that took place at the Naval Forces Command in Ankara on the night of July 15 was concluded by the Ankara 13th High Criminal Court on Tuesday.

The files of eight defendants, three of whom are at large, were separated from those of the other defendants.

The defendants who were given aggravated life sentences including two rear admirals are accused of seeking to overthrow the constitutional order while the others who received life sentences are accused of violating the Constitution. Read the full article
8

Detention warrants issued for 121 women on Int’l Women’s Day

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office issued detention warrants on International Women’s Day for 121 women due to alleged links to the faith-based Gülen movement, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.

Turkish police detained a total of 4,725 people over alleged links to the movement in the first two months of 2018. Read the full article
8

Prosecutor seeks 15 years for widow of teacher tortured to death in police custody

The İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office is seeking a sentence of up to 15 years in prison for teacher Mümüne Açıkkollu, the widow of teacher Gökhan Açıkkollu, who was tortured to death in police custody in the wake of a military coup attempt in Turkey on July 15, 2016, on charges of alleged membership in the Gülen movement.

The Aktif Haber news website on Wednesday reported that an indictment was drafted by the prosecutor’s office for Mümüne Açıkkollu as part of an investigation targeting alleged members of the Gülen movement.

The indictment reportedly accuses Mümüne Açıkkollu of membership in a “terrorist organization” and having used mobile phone messaging applications ByLock and Eagle. It was also alleged that she deposited money in her personal account at private lender Bank Asya, which was closed down by the government over its affiliation with the movement. Mümüne Açıkkollu was also dismissed from her civil service job due to alleged links to the movement. Read the full article
9

Detention warrants issued for 243 over alleged Gülen links

The İstanbul, Ankara, Mersin and Konya chief public prosecutor’s offices on Friday issued detention warrants for 243 people, including 92 teachers, as part of an investigation into the faith-based Gülen movement, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.

Turkish police detained a total of 4,725 people over alleged links to the movement in the first two months of 2018. Read the full article
9

FETÖ leader Gülen's cousin arrested in Istanbul over terror charges

Turkish police on Friday arrested a cousin of Fetullah Gülen, the U.S.-based leader of the Gülenist terror group (FETÖ), who masterminded 2016's botched July 15 coup attempt.

On Thursday, an Istanbul court had released Kemalettin Gülen while imposing a ban on him from leaving the country, said a police source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on talking to the media.

However, over a prosecutor's objection, the court issued an arrest warrant for Gülen, who was later arrested during an anti-terror operation in Istanbul. Source
* The date the source published the article.
 
To the topp

 
11 - 20 March
Date:*

11

Detention warrants issued for 300 teachers in a month in Ankara

The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has issued detention warrants in the past month for 300 teachers who worked in schools owned by people close to the Gülen movement, the tr724 news website reported.

The schools were closed and the teachers dismissed by the government after a failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016. Read the full article
12

Turkish gov’t detains 740 in one week over alleged Gülen links

The Turkish Interior Ministry announced on Monday that 740 people have been detained in the past week due to alleged links to the faith-based Gülen movement, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.

The Interior Ministry announced on March 05 that 765 people had been taken into custody the previous week due to alleged links to the movement. Turkish police detained a total of 4,725 people over alleged links to the movement in the first two months of 2018. Read the full article
13

Detention warrants target ‘25 on-duty, dismissed and retired soldiers’ in FETÖ probe

Detention warrants were issued in the capital Ankara for 25 soldiers on March 13 as part of a probe to uncover the Fethullahist Terror Organization’s (FETÖ) structuring in the General Commandership of Gendarmerie, state-run Anadolu Agency has reported.

Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office issued the detention warrants, which target on-duty, dismissed and retired soldiers. Police then conducted simultaneous operations in nine provinces, including Ankara. Source

Detention warrants issued for 35 purged police officers

The Ordu Chief Public Prosecutor’s office on Wednesday issued detention warrants for 35 police officers who were purged following a coup attempt in Turkey on July 15, 2016 over alleged links to the faith-based Gülen movement, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.

According to the report, 34 of the 35 police officers have been detained in police operations in seven provinces.

Director General of Public Security Selami Altınok on Dec. 12, 2017 said 22,987 police officers in Turkey have been dismissed over suspected links to the movement. Read the full article
14

Turkey seeks to bring thousands of FETÖ members abroad to justice

Turkey has launched international efforts to bring members of elusive Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) to justice. Through an inquiry in cooperation with intelligence services, the Foreign Ministry determined 4,600 suspected members of the group around the world and has asked the Chief Prosecutor's Office in the capital Ankara to issue their arrest warrants.

All suspects are accused of being involved in pro-FETÖ propaganda, which escalated after Turkish officials announced that the terrorist group was behind the deadly coup attempt on July 15, 2016. On that day, a total of 249 people were killed when infiltrators of the terrorist group in the military tried to seize power. Read the full article
15

15 officers detained for FETÖ links

Turkish security forces yesterday detained 15 military officers linked to the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ).

The suspects were among 36 officers with outstanding detention warrants, and the manhunt to capture the other suspects was underway when Daily Sabah went to print.
Almost all suspects are on-duty officers. Warrants were issued by the chief prosecutor's office in the southwestern province of Muğla as part of a probe into the group's network in the army. Read the full article

15

Court sentences 11 Gülenist suspects from Marmara University

The trial of individuals alleged to be members the Gülen movement’s alleged academic branch in Marmara University concluded on Thursday. 

8 of the 11 suspects were sentenced to 6 years 3 months in prison. The court ruled for the release of those suspects, while the judicial control decision for the two suspects not arrested will continue.

The remaining suspect, İbrahim Tam, was sentenced to 8 years 1 month and will remain in prison.

The indictment, which was initially prepared for 15 suspects based the allegations on allegedly pro-Gülen social media posts, usage of the ByLock mobile application, which has been linked to the movement, having accounts at Gülen-linked Bank Asya, and ending their subscriptions to Digiturk satellite TV, allegedly on movement orders. Source 

15

402,000 Turks investigated over alleged Gülen links since July 2016

The number of people who have been investigated for alleged ties to the faith-based Gülen movement reached 402,000 in March, according to the state-run Anadolu news agency.

Anadolu said Thursday that 402,000 people were investigated as part of a crackdown on the movement after a failed coup in Turkey on July 15, 2016.

A year after the coup attempt, the number of people under investigation totaled 171,970, the news agency said, adding that the figure has increased at an accelerated pace since then to now amount to 402,000.

More than 150,000 people have lost their jobs, some 150,000 have been taken into police custody and 60,000 were put in pretrial detention as part of the post-coup crackdown on alleged Gülen movement members. Source
19

537 detained in one week over alleged Gülen links

The Turkish Interior Ministry announced on Monday that 537 people have been detained in the past week due to alleged links to the faith-based Gülen movement, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.

The Interior Ministry announced on March 12 that 740 people had been taken into custody the previous week due to alleged links to the movement.

Turkish police detained a total of 4,725 people over alleged links to the movement in the first two months of 2018. Read the full article
19

24 more military personnel detained over Gülen links

Twenty-four more military members, including 12 active duty, 10 purged and two suspended, have been detained on Monday over alleged links to the faith-based Gülen movement, as part of investigations launched by the Zonguldak Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported. Read the full article
19

21 soldiers linked to FETÖ arrested, more putschists face life in prison

In the latest operations against the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ), security forces detained 21 military officers in 16 cities yesterday. Elsewhere, prosecutors asked for 18 defendants to be sentenced to life for their roles in the 2016 coup bid by FETÖ's infiltrators in the military. The defendants were accused of attempting to take over the headquarters of the army's elite Special Forces in the capital Ankara and murdering Ömer Halisdemir, an officer who confronted them and shot dead the leader of the putschists during the takeover

Last week, the chief prosecutor's office in Muğla, a southwestern city where President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was vacationing during the insurrection attempt, issued arrest warrants for 36 soldiers who managed to hide their ties to FETÖ long after the deadly attempt.
15 officers were arrested last week, and the rest were nabbed in yesterday's operations held in cities spanning from Istanbul to Diyarbakır in the southeast and to Artvin in the northeast. Suspects manage to dodge detection in the post-coup purge against FETÖ and are accused of staying in contact with their civilian handlers in the terrorist group via payphones. Read the full article

* The date the source published the article
 
21 - 31 March
Date:*
Closed-down university staff given lengthy prison terms for alleged Gülen links

21 March 2018

The 2nd High Criminal Court in Turkey’s Kayseri province has sentenced Prof. Dr. Mahmut Dursun Mat, the last rector of Kayseri’s Melikşah University, which was closed by a government decree issued under emergency rule over its alleged affiliation with the Gülen movement, to 10 years in prison on charges of membership in an armed terrorist organization.

According to a report by Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency on Wednesday, the Kayseri court sentenced 18 of 21 defendants, including Melikşah University Rector Mat, general secretary of the university Veli Demirci, deans, department heads, academics and staff to prison terms ranging from six years, three months to 11 years, three months over their links to the movement.

In addition to Rector Mat, general secretary Demirci, faculty deans Bilal Vatansever and Hüseyin Kalyoncu and academics and staff members Emin Emirza, Hayrettin Eren, Mustafa Yüzükırmızı, Hasan Güngör, Sema Babayiğit, Metin Mete Özbilen, Ahmet Uyar, Mustafa Yılmaz, Nihat Köroğlu, Abdullah Yuvacı, Necati Vapur, Doğan Bulut, Mehmet Evren Soylu, Onur Genç, Naciye Oral and Yücel Ceviz were present at the last hearing of the trial.

The court sentenced Demirci to 11 years, three months in prison, Rector Mat to 10 years, Onur Genç to eight years, nine months, Ceviz to seven years, six months, Emirza, Vatansever and Bulut to six years, 10 months and 15 days, and Eren, Yüzükırmızı, Güngör, Özbilen, Kalyoncu, Uyar, Yılmaz, Köroğlu, Vapur and Umut Hazar to six years, three months in prison. The court acquitted defendants Babayiğit, Yuvacı and Soylu due to a lack of evidence.

Since a coup attempt in Turkey on July 15, 2016, a total of 5,717 academics at 117 universities have been dismissed from their jobs due to government decrees issued under the ongoing state of emergency. However, according to a BBC Turkish report in July, 23,427 academics have been negatively affected by the state of emergency that was declared following the failed coup attempt in 2016.

The report said at least 23,427 academics either lost their jobs at universities when their contracts were terminated, or were dismissed from their positions, or were left unemployed when the universities where they worked were closed down by the government after Sept. 1, 2016.

Critics say the collective dismissal of academics and collective verdicts without specifying individual crimes violates the principle of “the individuality of crime and punishment in law.”

Emergency rule was declared for three months on July 21, 2016 and became effective with a government decree issued on July 23, 2016. With the first decree, No. 667, 15 private and foundation universities were closed down on the grounds that they were linked to the Gülen movement.
There is no information about the number of administrative staff members working at these universities who were affected, but 2,808 academics were left unemployed and 65,000 students had to seek new universities according to figures from the Higher Education Board (YÖK).

Another state decree in September targeted 15,000 research assistants for their alleged links to the Gülen movement. They were part of an Assistant Professor Training Program (ÖYP) that was launched in 2010 to meet the need for academics in Turkey.

Turkey survived a coup attempt on July 15, 2016 that killed 249 people. Immediately after the putsch, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government along with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan pinned the blame on the Gülen movement.

Fethullah Gülen, who inspired the movement, strongly denied having any role in the failed coup and called for an international investigation into it, but President Erdoğan — calling the coup attempt “a gift from God” — and the government initiated a widespread purge aimed at cleansing sympathizers of the movement from within state institutions, dehumanizing its popular figures and putting them in custody.

Turkey has suspended or dismissed more than 150,000 judges, teachers, police and other civil servants since July 2016. Turkey’s interior minister announced on December 12, 2017 that 55,665 people have been arrested.

Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency reported on March 15, 2018 that at least 402,000 people have been the subject of legal proceedings initiated by the Turkish government over alleged links to the Gülen movement.

A total of 48,305 people were arrested by courts across Turkey in 2017 over their alleged links to the Gülen movement, Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu said on Dec. 2, 2017.

“The number of detentions is nearly three times higher,” Soylu told a security meeting in İstanbul and claimed that “even these figures are not enough to reveal the severity of the issue.”
(Stockholm Center for Freedom [SCF]) Source

23

8 ex-military officers sentenced to life

A court in southern Turkey on Friday handed down aggravated life sentences to eight former Turkish military officers, over their links to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the July 2016 defeated coup, according to a judicial source.

Mersin’s 7th Heavy Penal Court convicted the officers of attempting to violate the constitutional order on the night of the defeated coup, said the source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

Among the convicts were Cdre. Nejat Atilla Demirhan, then-commander of Mediterranean region, and Col. Tayfun Ergi. The court also gave 13 FETO convicts jail terms ranging from seven-and-a-half-years to 15 years. The convicts -- including former police personnel -- were charged for aiding the coup attempt and being members of an armed terror group. Source

Police arrest more than 100 FETO suspects across Turkey

23 March 2018

Police arrested 123 FETO suspects during early morning operations across Turkey on Friday.

Out of the total, 12 suspects, including eight active and former soldiers were arrested during police operations in 15 Turkish provinces. According to Van Police Department, simultaneous operations were carried out in Van, Isparta, Bitlis, Ankara, Manisa, Izmir, Antalya, Tokat, Balikesir, Bingol, Konya, Kocaeli, Kastamonu, Hakkari and Sirnak provinces.

Separately, police arrested 38 FETO suspects in the capital, according to Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in Ankara. The suspects were affiliated to a labor confederation closed under a decree-law for its FETO links.

Also, Ankara police arrested 24 other FETO suspects as part of their anti-terror operation against FETO's setup within the Turkish police.

Ten others were arrested in Mediterranean provinces of Adana and Mersin, and northwestern provinces of Istanbul and Balikesir.

Police also arrested 25 suspects who were employees of a FETO-linked publishing company, Isik Publishing.

A police source told Anadolu Agency that Istanbul police also launched a simultaneous operation to catch 55 suspects in 13 provinces, including Istanbul. So far, they nabbed 25 suspects out of the total, the source who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, said.

Seven suspects, including a dismissed civil servant were also arrested as part of a FETO probe in Samsun, Kirikkale and Ordu provinces, Samsun police said. The suspects were accused of working for FETO-linked firms and using ByLock, an encrypted cellphone app said to be used by FETO members to communicate during and after the defeated 2016 coup.

One more FETO suspect was held in central province of Eskisehir. During a search of suspect Yilmaz Y.'s home, police seized many books by Fetullah Gulen.

Additionally, six FETO suspects were arrested in central Kayseri province. The wanted suspects were said to be hiding in safehouses.

The Fetullah Terrorist Organization and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 250 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.

Reporting by Necat Hazar, Zafer Fatih Beyaz, Sertac Bulur, Omer Yildiz and Yusuf Koyun:Writing by Can Erozden. Source

23

Detention warrants issued for 100 over Gülen links

The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office on Friday issued detention warrants for 100 people including purged police officers and executives of the Aksiyon-İş union as part of an investigation into the faith-based Gülen movement, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.

The Turkish Interior Ministry announced on March 19 that 537 people have been detained in the past week due to alleged links to the Gülen movement.

Turkish police detained a total of 4,725 people over alleged links to the movement in the first two months of 2018. Read the full article
23

Detention warrants issued for 62 executives of gov’t-closed business unions

Warrants issued for 68 executives of some business unions that the government shuttered over ties to the Gulen movement in the wake of the July 15, 2016 failed coup.

State-run Anadolu news agency said Friday that the Ankara Public Prosecutor’s Office issued warrants for 62 people who worked at 5 unions, all affiliated with the Aksiyon Business Confederation (Aksiyon Is).

Police carried out operations to detain suspects in 7 provinces as part of the investigation, Anadolu said.

The government blames Gulenists for the 2016 failed coup while the latter denies involvement.

Some 160,000 people have passed through police custody and 60,000 were remanded in prison pending trial over Gulen links so far. Source
25

2,500 schools confiscated, 30,000 teachers dismissed over Gülen links

Turkish Education Ministry Undersecretary Yusuf Tekin on Sunday said they have completed a purge of Gülen movement members and institutions in his ministry, the DHA news agency reported.

“The fight against Fetö [a derogatory name used by the Turkish government for the Gülen movement] in the Education Ministry in accordance with a state of emergency declared following July 15 [coup attempt] has been completed. Some 2,500 schools, prep schools and dormitories linked with Fetö have been closed and confiscated and given to the service of the nation. About 30,000 Fetö-linked teachers and staff working for the ministry have been dismissed,” Tekin said during a visit to the Yusufeli district of Artvin province.

Tekin also said Gülen movement goals of infiltrating the curriculum and textbooks have been dealt with. Read the full article
568 detained in one week over alleged Gülen links

The Turkish Interior Ministry announced on Monday that 568 people have been detained in the past week due to alleged links to the faith-based Gülen movement, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.

The Interior Ministry announced on March 19 that 537 people had been taken into custody the previous week due to alleged links to the movement.

Turkish police detained a total of 4,725 people over alleged links to the movement in the first two months of 2018.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) government pursued a crackdown on the Gülen movement following corruption operations in December 2013 in which the inner circle of the government and then-Prime Minister Erdoğan were implicated.

Erdoğan also accuses the Gülen movement of masterminding a failed coup attempt in Turkey on July 15, 2016.

Despite the movement strongly denying involvement in the failed coup, Erdoğan launched a witch-hunt targeting the movement following the putsch.

A total of 62,895 people were detained in 2017 as part of investigations into the movement, according to Interior Ministry reports.

Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu on Jan. 5 said 48,305 people were jailed in 2017 alone over Gülen movement links.

Soylu said on Dec. 12 that 55,665 people have been jailed and 234,419 passports have been revoked as part of investigations into the movement since the failed coup.

On Nov. 16 Soylu had said eight holdings and 1,020 companies were seized as part of operations against the movement.

The number of people who have been investigated for alleged ties to the faith-based Gülen movement reached 402,000 in March, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported on March 15.

Turkey has suspended or dismissed more than 150,000 judges, teachers, police and other civil servants since July 15, 2016 through government decrees issued as part of an ongoing state of emergency declared after the coup attempt. Source

26

Detention warrants issued on Monday for 56 over Gülen links

The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office on Monday issued detention warrants for 56 people over their alleged links to the faith-based Gülen movement, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.

According to the report, 16 of 56 have been detained in police raids across 14 provinces. The Turkish Interior Ministry announced on Monday that 568 people have been detained in the past week due to alleged links to the movement.

Turkish police detained a total of 4,725 people over alleged links to the movement in the first two months of 2018. Read the full article

26

Police arrest over 30 FETO suspects across Turkey

Police arrested 33 suspects across Turkey on Monday over suspected links to Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the 2016 defeated coup, security officials said. As part of an Ankara-based investigation into the terror group's secret network within the Turkish Air Force, police arrested 16 FETO suspects accused of using ByLock, an encrypted mobile phone application used by coup plotters, according to the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

The office had issued arrest warrants for 36 suspects in nine provinces, including the ByLock users.

Separately, in a central Kirsehir-based operation, security forces arrested 10 on-duty soldiers in simultaneous raids, said security sources, who refused to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media. The arrests took place in Mersin, Hatay, Diyarbakir, Edirne, Canakkale and Agri provinces.

In the northern Tokat province, six out of seven FETO-linked terror suspects were arrested as part of an investigation into a "judges and prosecutors house" of the terror group, sources said. Additionally, a fugitive businessman was rounded up in northwestern Edirne province when he was preparing to illegally cross into Greece. Source
27

Detention warrants issued on Tuesday for 62 over Gülen links

The Ağrı and Mersin chief public prosecutors’ offices on Tuesday issued detention warrants for 62 people over their alleged links to the faith-based Gülen movement, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.

According to the report, 54 of 62 have been detained in police raids across 26 provinces. The Turkish Interior Ministry announced on Monday that 568 people have been detained in the past week due to alleged links to the movement.

Turkish police detained a total of 4,725 people over alleged links to the movement in the first two months of 2018. Read the full article
27

Jewelry store chain, Istanbul company seized over alleged Gülen links

Two more companies have been seized as part of an investigation into the faith-based Gülen movement, which the Turkish government accuses of masterminding a failed coup in Turkey on July 15, 2016.

A panel of trustees was appointed to Ikizler Kuyumculuk, a jewelry store chain in Tekirdag province, as well as another company in Istanbul as part of a seizure order for the assets of two businessmen, identified only as K.Ö. and K.G.

Arrest warrants were issued for nine businessmen including K.Ö. and K.G. who are accused of having provided financial support to the Gülen group. Six of the suspects have been detained, while K.Ö. is reported to be abroad. The government has detained more than 160,000 people and jailed some 60,000 since the summer of 2016.

Meanwhile, more than 1,000 companies with a total value of $12 billion in assets have been seized and then transferred to the state-run Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) since the coup attempt. The companies were mostly targeted as part of the government crackdown on the movement. Source

28

Police arrest 12 FETO suspects

Turkish police have arrested 12 suspects in Turkey’s western province of Bilecik on Wednesday over alleged links to Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the 2016 defeated coup, a security source said.

The suspects, all suspended teachers, were taken into custody as part of a probe launched by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in Bilecik, said the source who asked not to be named due to restrictions on talking to the media. Source
30

Detention warrants issued for 80 in Ankara over Gülen links

The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office on Friday issued detention warrants for 80 people over their alleged links to the Gülen movement, which is accused by the Turkish government of masterminding a failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016.

Detention warrants were issued for 46 people on the grounds that they stole questions from an examination for the Police Academy, while warrants were issued for 34 employees of the Ministry of Family and Social Affairs on claims that they stole a question in an exam administered by the ministry in 2011. Source

6 Turkish nationals taken to Pristina Airport for deportation
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Six suspects released in Gülen-linked business network case

An Istanbul court on March 30 released six suspects in an investigation targeting the financial structure of the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), state-run Anadolu Agency has reported. The trial includes members of the Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON), shut down for its alleged financial support of FETÖ, widely believed to have orchestrated the failed coup of July 15, 2016.

The Istanbul 23rd Heavy Penal Court released the suspects—including Ahmet Şener Gülenç, İlhan Karagöz, Levent Dursunakın, Oğuz Kaan Gündüz, Salih Zeki Azak and Selahattin Altuntaş—and also ordered a travel ban for them.
Among those in custody are Ömer Faruk Kavurmacı, the son-in-law of former Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbaş, Faruk Güllü, co-owner of the well-known Faruk Gullüoğlu baklava chain, Tolga Güven, Şafak Koca, Çetin Tekmedir, Ahmet Tuzlu, Mehmet Zenginer and Mustafa Zenginer. Source

* The date the source published the article

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