Turkish leftist party member detained over suspected FETÖ links

ISTANBUL

A member of a leftist party, who backed 2010 constitutional changes supported by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) through a separate campaign for referendum, was detained on Sept. 1 for alleged links to the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) in the Ayvalık district of the western province of Balıkesir.

Mücteba Kılıç, 43, a member of the Revolutionary Socialist Workers’ Party (DSİP), is suspected of having links to the organization led by U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen, the prime suspect of the failed July 15 coup attempt in Turkey.

Kılıç was detained during a raid on her home and office, and police have sent her to Ankara for further legal proceedings.

The raid came as images emerged showing Kılıç reading a poem next to Gülen in an event during his university years.

The DSİP was one of the actors involved in the “Not Enough but Yes” (“Yetmez ama Evet”) campaign launched to support constitutional changes in the 2010 referendum, backed by the ruling AKP and ultimately passed with the votes of more than 50 percent of the electorate.

After winning the referendum, Erdoğan – prime minister at the time – delivered his thanks all campaigners who supported the changes, including the DSİP.