1,235 cases launched over Gülen, coup attempt links

ANKARA

Turkish courts have opened a total of 1,235 criminal cases in the last six months as part of investigations into the Gülen network, with 78 cases directly related to the July 2016 coup attempt. 

The Justice Ministry said that after the failed takeover bid around 10,000 probes were opened into suspects with alleged links to the coup attempt and the network of the U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen, who is believed to be behind the coup attempt. 

There are a total of 6,400 suspects, around half of whom are being tried under arrest, in the 1,235 prosecutions. The cases are being heard by 56 courts. 

The total number of arrests both in the coup probes and in the Gülen network-related probes, meanwhile, is reported to be 44,000. Suspects are charged with crimes including “attempting to abolish the constitutional order,” “membership of a terrorist organization,” “committing crime on behalf of a terrorist organization,” and “praising the crime and criminals.”