Minister, AKP deputies said to have used ByLock: CHP coup panel member

Rifat Başaran – ANKARA

A total of four ministers and 58 Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputies and mayors were using the ByLock and Eagle applications, two mobile applications that are suspected to have been used as an internal communication means among Gülenists, main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) İzmir deputy Aytun Çıray said Oct. 17.

Çıray, who is also a member of the Turkish parliament’s coup attempt investigation commission, said he was given an unsigned note bearing information about the AKP ministers, deputies and mayors. He added that the only way to confirm the information was to see the list of ByLock and Eagle users that are due to arrive at the commission.

The Gülen movement stands accused of leading the July 15 coup attempt.

Also tweeting about the note, Çıray said he was certain about the parts of the note saying that two ministers were also using the apps. 

“The prime minister’s [recent comments on the issue] are unclear to me so I have decided to make a statement to create transparency for the public,” said Çıray, adding that he did not want to accuse the AKP or want to take this as an opportunity to reap political benefits out of the information.   

Meanwhile, the CHP’s Istanbul provincial head, Cemal Canpolat, said on Oct. 15 that his office received allegations that 12 AKP municipalities and 60 municipal council members were members of the Gülenist organization. 

“Now they are making plans against each other, and are preparing dossiers against each other. We receive dozens of documents from AKP members. We have set up a special working group and are investigating these dossiers... The number of mayors that were denounced to us on charges of being [Gülenist] members is 20,” Canpolat said.