25 people including 13 high-ranking military officers detained over alleged coup involvement

At least 25 individuals, including high-ranking military officers, were detained as part of two separate investigations into the Gülen movement, which the government accuses of being behind failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016. 

Detention warrants were issued for 12 people in a Manisa-based probe and 13 others in an investigation originating in Karabük. The detainees included university students, small business owners, corporate executives and 13 high-ranking military officers. They are accused of having used ByLock, a smartphone app that Turkish prosecutors claim to be a top communication tool among Gülen movement supporters.

Turkey experienced a military coup attempt on July 15, 2016 that killed over 240 people. Immediately after the putsch, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government along with Turkey’s autocratic President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan pinned the blame on the movement. The movement denies any involvement. 

In the currently ongoing post-coup purge, over 135,000 people have been purged due to their real or alleged connection to the Gülen movement, according to a statement by the labor minister on Jan. 10, 2017.

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.

According to information given by Minister Soylu, 10,732 of those who have been arrested are police officers, while 168 military generals and 7,463 military officers have been jailed as of April 2, 2017. (SCF with turkeypurge.com) April 7, 2017

Take a second to support Stockholm Center for Freedom on Patreon!
Become a patron at Patreon!