The Turkish Interior Ministry announced on Monday that 157 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 2,696 social media users and that the identities of 196 were confirmed, leading to the detention of 157 people between July 31 and August 7.
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.