Police have detained over 100 suspects for their alleged links to US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen. The raids were the latest in a series targeting Gulen’s allegedly “terror group,” accused of trying to overthrow the president.
Turkish police said on Monday they had detained dozens of people suspected of having connections with the US-based cleric. According to the state-run Anatolu news agency, prosecutors issued warrants for 140 people, with 101 being arrested for allegedly being members of a “terror group” and providing funds for the Gulen movement, AP reported.
Those detained included 41 executives and employees of Bank Asya, founded by followers of Gulen. The bank was seized by the government last year under a probe centered on monetary support of about 50 million lira ($17 million) for Gulen’s group, which includes media companies, businesses and schools.
Over 2,260 people were rounded up in the operations which took place in 48 Turkish provinces over the weekend, pro-government newspaper Milliyet said.
Gulen and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan were allies until state lawyers and police officers considered close to the US-based cleric launched an anti-corruption probe against the Turkish president in 2013.
