Fifty-three people were detained in the western province of İzmir on Saturday while 22 others were placed in pre-trial detention as part of an İstanbul-based investigation into the Gülen movement.
The Turkish government accuses the movement of being behind a July 15, 2016 coup attempt, while the movement denies any involvement.
Operations by law enforcement to round up people with alleged or real ties to the movement are still continuing nine months after the failed coup. Critics often lambaste the government for abusing the post-coup emergency rule.
Detention warrants were issued for 76 suspects in İstanbul, and police had located 53 of them as of Saturday. Most of the detainees were apprehended in the early hours of the day.
Meanwhile, an İzmir court ruled for the arrest of 22 people who had been detained in several districts of the province on April 19.
The Turkish government has arrested nearly 50,000 individuals since July 15, 2016. According to a statement from Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu on April 2, a total of 113,260 people have been detained as part of investigations into the Gülen movement since the July 15 coup attempt, while 47,155 were put into pre-trial detention. (turkeypurge.com) April 23, 2017
