Islam and politics

A Turkish employee of the U.S. consulate general in Istanbul was found guilty on June 11 of assisting an armed terrorist organization.

An Istanbul Court sentenced Metin Topuz to eight years and nine months in prison on charges of helping FETÖ, the terror group behind a 2016 coup attempt in Turkey.

The U.S. state of Alabama shut down a controversial charter school on June 9 with links to FETÖ, two months before its opening, citing a failure to meet conditions.  

Turkish police and security forces have so far detained 177 soldiers in nationwide operations to arrest alleged members of Fethullah Gulen's network, which Ankara accuse of orchestrating a failed coup attempt in 2016.

Turkish security authorities on June 9 launched multiple operations in various provinces to detain suspects affiliated
with the FETÖ- the group behind the bloody failed coup attempt of 2016.

Turkish security authorities on June 8 launched multiple operations in various provinces to detain suspects affiliated with the FETÖ- the group behind the bloody failed coup attempt of 2016.

Prosecutors issued detention warrants for a total of 33 suspects, including 24 on-duty police force members, and security forces started simultaneous operations in 16 provinces.

Turkish police on June 5 detained at least 60 people for their suspected links to FETÖ, the group behind the 2016 defeated coup, security sources said.

Turkey on June 2 detained 72 people, including on-duty soldiers, over suspected links to FETÖ, the group behind the defeated coup in 2016.

Prosecutors in Istanbul issued arrest warrants for 118 people, including 98 on-duty soldiers, as part of an investigation into FETÖ.

Turkish police carried out anti-terror operations in 35 provinces.

Alleged Gulenist Selami Simsek in Court in Tirana. Photo: LSA

Both men are alleged by Turkish authorities to be members of exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen's movement, which Ankara alleges is a terrorist organisation responsible for a failed coup plot in Turkey in 2016.

Rear Admiral Cihat Yayci, architect of Turkey's policy on Libya and maritime borders in the Mediterranean Sea, has been removed as Chief of Staff of the Turkish Navy, according to reports in the Turkish media.

The reasons behind the decision, which was reportedly signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan late Friday, have not been officially confirmed.

A few independent media outlets survived a crackdown under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan since a failed 2016 coup. Now they too face fresh pressure as the government seeks to stifle criticism of its handling of the economy and COVID-19.