The Ankara and Tokat chief public prosecutor’s offices on Friday issued detention warrants for 72 people including 20 military members over alleged links to the faith-based Gülen movement, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.
According to the report police detained 36 of the 72 people during operations in 24 provinces.The Gülen movement is accused by the Turkish government of masterminding a coup attempt on July 15, 2016. The movement strongly denies any involvement.A total of 62,895 people were detained in 2017 as part of investigations into the movement, according to Interior Ministry reports.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Soylu said on Dec. 12 that 55,665 people have been jailed and 234,419 passports have been revoked as part of investigations into the movement since the failed coup.Soylu on Nov. 16 had said eight holdings and 1,020 companies were seized as part of operations against the movement.The Justice Ministry announced on July 13 that 169,013 people have been the subject of legal proceedings on coup charges since the failed coup.
Turkey has suspended or dismissed more than 150,000 judges, teachers, police and civil servants since July 15 through government decrees issued as part of an ongoing state of emergency declared after the coup attempt.
