The Turkish Interior Ministry announced on Monday that 168 people have been detained over the past week on charges of disseminating propaganda on social media on behalf of the Gülen movement, the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) or the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
The ministry said investigations were launched into 2,619 social media users and that the identities of 1,403 were confirmed, leading to the detention of 168 people between July 24 and July 31. No information was provided as to whether the detainees were arrested.
The posts allegedly disseminated terrorist propaganda and praised terrorist organizations as well as provoking people to hatred, revenge and enmity and insulting state authorities.
The Gülen movement is accused by the Turkish government of mounting a botched coup attempt on July 15, 2016. The movement strongly denies any involvement.