Turkish police teams on Wednesday detained 64 individuals across the provinces of İstanbul, Adana, Tokat and İzmir due to alleged links to the Gülen movement, which is accused by the Turkish government of masterminding a coup attempt in July 2016.
In İstanbul police teams raided 33 residences and detained 22 alleged members of the Gülen movement as part of an investigation conducted by the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.
In the western province of İzmir, 11 people were detained, while 15 others were taken into custody in central Tokat province and 16 were detained in the southern province of Adana following police raids.
The detainees are accused of membership in a terrorist organization.
The Turkish government accuses the Gülen movement of masterminding the failed coup on July 15, 2016 and labels it a “terrorist organization,” although the movement strongly denies involvement in the coup attempt or any terrorist activity.
Following the abortive putsch, the Turkish government launched a massive crackdown on followers of the movement under the pretext of an anti-coup fight as a result of which more than 150,000 people were removed from state jobs, while in excess of 30,000 others were jailed and some 600,000 people have been investigated on allegations of terrorism.