Germany’s Federal Prosecutor’s Office has initiated 11 preliminary investigations against suspected spies of the Turkey’s National Intelligence Agency (MIT) in 2017, according to German news outlet ND. According to the report, the number of such investigations totals 19 in the past 5 years.
In response to the Left Party’s question, the prosecutor’s office said 11 investigations were launched against alleged MİT spies in Germany this year. While the office did not elaborate on the number of the suspected MİT officials in the country, there are reportedly around 6,000 MİT employees and informants across Germany.
Left Party’s deputy head Sevim Dağdelen said the investigations show only “the tip of the iceberg.”
Turkish government has launched a sweeping crackdown against all opposition circles in the aftermath of the July 15, 2016 failed coup. More than 55,000 people were arrested at home and thousands of others have fled Turkey to seek refuge elsewhere.
German weekly Der Spiegel reported in March, this year that Turkish government has been spying on its own citizens in 35 countries with the help of its diplomatic outposts.
“The request to compile the files came directly from Ankara. On Sept. 20, 2016, the Turkish government’s religious agency, Diyanet, sent out an order asking” for detailed reports about organizational structures, activities and educational institutions of the suspected groups, Der Spiegel reported. (turkeypurge.com)
