Detention warrants were issued on Friday for a total of 63 people as part of investigation into the faith-based Gülen movement in three provinces of Turkey, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.
According to the report, Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor issued detention warrants for 38 people who worked in private schools and preparatory schools which were seized by Turkish government, on accusations that they use a smart phone application known as ByLock.
Turkish authorities believe that ByLock is a communication tool among followers of the Gülen movement.
In a similar development, detention warrants were issued for 20 police officers who were dismissed following the failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016, as part of investigation launched by Kocaeli Chief Public Prosecutor into Gülen movement.
In Kayseri province, 5 people were detained for supporting Gülen movement on social media.
The Turkish Interior Ministry announced on Oct. 16 that 947 people have been detained in one week as part of a witch hunt targeting the Gülen movement.
Immediately after the putsch the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) government along with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan pinned the blame on the Gülen movement.
Fethullah Gülen, who inspired the movement, strongly denied having any role in the failed coup and called for an international investigation into it, but President Erdoğan — calling the coup attempt “a gift from God” — and the government initiated a widespread purge aimed at cleansing sympathizers of the movement from within state institutions, dehumanizing its popular figures and putting them in custody.
Turkey’s Justice Ministry announced on July 13 that 50,510 people have been arrested and 169,013 have been the subject of legal proceedings on coup charges since the failed coup.
Turkey has suspended or dismissed more than 150,000 judges, teachers, police and civil servants since July 15 through government decrees issued as part of the state of emergency.