117 detention warrants issued in probe targeting Gülenist structure in Turkish army

İZMİR – Anadolu Agency

Detention warrants have been issued for a total of 117 people as part of an investigation targeting the structure of the movement of the U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen in the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK).

Simultaneous operations were launched in 45 provinces centered in the western province of İzmir to apprehend the suspects early on Sept. 29.

According to the investigation launched by the İzmir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office and carried out by prosecutor Berkant Karakaya, a majority of the sought suspects are soldiers on active duty.

A total of 98 of those sought are soldiers on active duty, while the remaining 19 suspects were previously dismissed from the army over their suspected links to the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ).

Authorities have determined that FETÖ members have been in contact with the suspects in the army by talking through payphones in order to keep their conversations secret.

It was also determined that a total of 268 military personnel were called to FETÖ meetings or received orders from Gülenists between 2010 and the July 15, 2016 failed coup attempt, widely believed to have been masterminded by the group, in İzmir. Most of those were dismissed after the thwarted coup, according to the investigation.

Some of the sought suspects are officers and non-commissioned officers on active duties and in critical positions in the General Staff, force commands, Gendarmerie General Command and Coast Guard Command.

While a number of suspects were detained on Sept. 29, the search to apprehend the remaining ones has been ongoing.