311 detained in Turkey over ‘terror propaganda’ on social media amid Afrin operation

ISTANBUL

The Interior Ministry stated on Jan. 29 that a total of 311 suspects have been detained so far over “making terror propaganda” on social media regarding Turkey’s operation into the northern Syrian district of Afrin.

The anti-cybercrime branch of Turkey’s police department reportedly launched legal proceedings against 208 suspects after inspecting a total of 571 social media accounts.

The Turkish military and forces of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) on Jan. 20 launched “Operation Olive Branch” against militants of the Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) in Afrin.

On Jan. 21 investigations were started to launch by the chief public prosecutor’s offices in the provinces of Ankara, Van, Diyarbakır, Mardin, Muş and Istanbul against a number of social media users accused of voicing support for the PYD and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).