Seven academics arrested over alleged links to Gülenists

ISTANBUL

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Seven academics from Yıldız Technical University were arrested on Dec. 15 over alleged links to the U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen, who is accused of masterminding the failed July 15 coup in Turkey, state-run Anadolu Agency has reported.

The arrested academics, including five professors, were charged with “being a member of a terrorist organization” as part of the ongoing investigation into the Gülen Movement which was conducted by the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor’s Office. 

One of the Istanbul chief prosecutors, Mehmet Şenay Baygın, referred 22 of 39 suspects to the court with a demand for their arrest after their testimony, but 17 were released under probation.
 
Istanbul chief public prosecutors had issued detention warrants for 103 academic personnel, detaining 73 from Yıldız Technical University on Nov. 18, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.