Turkish prosecutors on Tuesday ordered the detention of 228 suspects, including soldiers, medical professors, scientists and businesspeople, in six separate investigations into the faith-based Gülen movement, which is accused of orchestrating a 2016 coup attempt despite its strong denial of any involvement.
In Konya, the chief public prosecutor’s office on Tuesday issued detention warrants for 50 suspects over alleged Gülen links, accusing them of infiltration into the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) on behalf of the movement.
Fifteen of the suspects were detained in raids on residences in 22 provinces,, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.
The Balıkesir police, meanwhile, detained 24 former Justice Ministry personnel over Gülen links following a detention order.
The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office also ordered the detention of 21 suspects, eight of whom have been working for the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK), as part of an investigation into the movement.
One of the suspects was employed as an engineer at defense contractor Havelsan, the report said, adding that there were also former TÜBİTAK employees among the detainees.
In İzmir province, the chief public prosecutor’s office ordered the detention of 54 businesspeople, accusing them of providing financial aid to the movement.
The report indicated that as evidence the prosecutor cited an increase in deposits to their accounts at the now-closed Gülen-affiliated Bank Asya.
There were also anonymous tips to the police accusing the suspects of links to the Gülen movement, the report said.
In another investigation, the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office issued detention warrants for 32 suspects, including 17 medical professors, who were working for GATA Institute of Health Sciences, formerly known as the Gülhane Military Medical Academy (GATA).
Following the abortive putsch in 2016, the government transferred GATA’s management from the Turkish military to the health ministry, changing its name in the process.
The İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, meanwhile, ordered the detention of 47 suspects, including 25 active-duty military members, over Gülen links.
On the pretext of an anti-coup fight, more than 130,000 people were removed from state jobs while in excess of 30,000 others are still in jail and some 600,000 people have been investigated on allegations of terrorism.