Eight suspects detained in raids on ‘parallel state’ education institutions in İzmir

İZMİR - Anadolu Agency

DHA Photo

Eight people have been detained in raids on 29 educational institutions operated by the movement of U.S.-based scholar Fethullah Gülen, an ally-turned-foe of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in Turkey’s Aegean province of İzmir. 

The anti-financial crimes branch of the İzmir police conducted simultaneous raids on 29 educational institutions in İzmir early Aug. 18, upon the order of Public Prosecutor Okan Bato and detained eight suspects. 

The suspects, who were reported to be managers in the institutions, were detained on grounds of “knowingly and willfully helping a terror organization,” and “forgery of official documents.” 

The suspects were accused of “fabricating documents,” “making financial gain for the [terror] organization,” “recruiting” and also “making alterations in schools without the necessary permissions and forging fake fire licenses, thus putting the students’ lives at risk.” 

The total number of suspects on the list Bata had prepared was reported to be 20. 

This raid on Gülen movement education institutions does not come as a first, as previous raids were conducted and scores of suspects were detained. 

The government has referred to the Gülen movement as the “parallel structure,” as they accused the followers of Gülen of forming a “parallel structure” within the state, which allegedly works against the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Erdoğan. 

The feud between the AKP and Gülen, who allegedly has influence over the Turkish judiciary and police forces, surged when graft probe was opened in December 2013 into more than 100 people, which included four former ministers, three of their children, influential businessmen and the former manager of Halkbank.