Turkish security forces have launched a large-scale operation against suspected members of the group of the late Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen (FETO), which has been declared a terrorist organization in Turkey, NOVA reported.
According to information from TRT Haber, the operation was carried out simultaneously in 47 districts in Southeastern Anatolia.
Arrests and searches were carried out at dozens of addresses in the districts of Gaziantep, Kahramanmaraş, Kilis, Şanlıurfa, Adıyaman, etc. A total of 225 people were detained on suspicion of being linked to the FETO organization, which according to Turkish authorities organized the failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016 to overthrow the government.
After interrogations by the police, the detainees were brought to court. 77 of them were arrested and sent to prison on charges of terrorism and treason.
A total of 125 people were detained under judicial control and will be tried while they are free, while the rest were released from criminal liability.
According to the prosecution, the suspects did not communicate with each other, did not even know each other personally, in order to avoid being discovered. They recruited young people, students, who were taken to camps abroad for organizational training. They held their meetings through various communication programs and only connected online.