Turkish prosecutors order detention of 51 policemen, 44 others over Gülen links

Turkish prosecutors on Tuesday ordered the detention of 95 people, including 51 policemen, as part of a massive crackdown targeting followers of the faith-based Gülen movement.

Turkey accuses the movement of orchestrating the 2016 coup attempt, although it strongly denies any involvement.

The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office ordered the detention of 44 people over Gülen links, the state-owned Anadolu news agency reported.

The suspects were accused of using ByLock, a smartphone application that Turkish authorities believe was used among followers of the movement.

Police detained 31 of the suspects.

According to a statement from the prosecutor’s office, some of the detainees were members of unions that were shut down by government decrees during a now-ended state of emergency.

Others were also accused of resurrecting the activities of the movement.

The İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office also issued detention warrants for 51 policemen as part of an investigation into the Gülen movement’s alleged activities of infiltration into police departments.

The suspects were accused of using ByLock.

Some 140,000 public servants have been dismissed by government decrees since the failed coup and more than 600,000 people were subjected to legal action on suspicion of terrorism.