Former AKP lawmaker detained over Gülen links

MERSIN

Police forces detained a former lawmaker from Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), Ahmet Tevfik Uzun, early on May 8 in the southern province of Mersin over suspected links to the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ).

Teams carried out searches in Uzun’s house and office, during which documents were seized.

Uzun represented the province of Mersin in Turkey’s 24th parliament and served as a lawmaker from 2011 until 2015. 

The Mersin Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation into the former AKP lawmaker as part of an investigation into the Gülen movement, which has been blamed for the failed coup attempt of July 15, 2016.

Separately, another former lawmaker from the AKP, İdris Şahin, was detained in August 2016 as part of a probe into FETÖ, but was released in September pending trial. 

Last week, the Turkish Prime Ministry sent parliament summaries of proceedings to lift the immunities of 18 lawmakers, including AKP deputy leader Şaban Dişli.

Şaban Dişli’s brother Mehmet Dişli, a former general, is standing trial over involvement in the July 2016 coup attempt.

Şaban Dişli has previously declared his “loyalty to democracy and the ruling party” regardless of the charges that his brother faces. 

The opposition parties have criticized the government for not extending the purge of Gülenists to the political sphere.