Turkish police arrest several people suspected of links to Fethullah Gülen movement

On August 28, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced that police had arrested 20 people in 11 provinces on suspicion of being linked to the Fethullah Gülen movement, a religious group considered a "terrorist organization" by Ankara.

The Turkish government has carried out a strong crackdown on members of the Gülen movement. (Source: Turkish Minute)

On social media platform X, Minister Yerlikaya said those arrested included suspects linked to the Gülen movement, who used the messaging app ByLock, or were allegedly in secret contact via public phones with members of the movement. Some of the detained individuals were also convicted of Gülen-related crimes and are currently on bail.

ByLock is seen as a secret communication tool among Gülen movement supporters, although there is no evidence that messages sent via ByLock were related to the failed coup of July 15, 2016.

The Gülen Movement, founded by cleric Fethullah Gülen, is accused by the Turkish government and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of masterminding the failed coup and is considered a "terrorist organization". The movement denies any involvement in the 2016 coup attempt or terrorist activities.

Since the failed coup, the Turkish government has carried out a severe crackdown on members of the Gülen movement. Thousands have been imprisoned, and many others have been forced to leave Türkiye to avoid government persecution.

Authorities often rely on witness testimony and phone records to identify and prosecute members of the movement. During trials, many defendants are encouraged to reveal other members in order to receive lighter sentences.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/ca-nh-sat-tho-nhi-ky-bat-giu-nhieu-nguoi-nghi-ngo-lien-quan-den-phong-trao-fethullah-g-len-284275.html