The administration of a Turkish prison has temporarily banned family visits for a jailed Islamic group leader, claiming that he has resumed giving orders to his followers through his family members.
Furkan Foundation Chair Alpaslan Kuytul, a fierce critic of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in his speeches, was first detained in February 2018 for allegedly spreading propaganda on behalf of terrorist groups.
Although he was released pending trial in January, another court ordered his re-arrest upon an appeal from a prosecutor, putting him back in Bolu Prison.
The prison’s disciplinary committee on July 1 ordered a one-month ban on family visits due to a conversation between Kuytul and his wife, Semra Kuytul.
The prison administration has surveillance authority for telephone calls with inmates as well as visits in which inmates and visitors talk by phone from behind glass.
In the conversation Kuytul said he was glad his followers were more motivated than ever thanks to his suffering behind bars.