Istanbul prosecutors detain relative of late FETÖ leader Over insults to Atatürk, Erdoğan

Authorities in Istanbul have detained Kemalettin Gülen, cousin of the late Fethullah Gülen, former FETÖ leader, over social media posts insulting Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of modern Türkiye, and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said it identified posts made from an account under the username "yahya_kema5566" that contained offensive remarks directed at both figures, Caliber.Az reports, citing Turkish media.

Following the investigation, prosecutors issued a detention order on charges relating to violations of the Law on Crimes Committed Against Atatürk and insult against the President.

Kemalettin Gülen was subsequently taken into police custody during a coordinated operation.

As a reminder, FETÖ, officially designated as a terrorist organisation by the Republic of Türkiye, is a clandestine structure formerly led by the late Fethullah Gülen.

Gülen, a cleric who had lived in self-imposed exile in the United States, was accused by Turkish authorities of masterminding the July 15, 2016, coup attempt, which resulted in the deaths of 251 people and injured more than 2,700.

According to the Turkish Ministry of Interior and the National Intelligence Organisation (MİT), FETÖ functioned as a secretive, hierarchical network that infiltrated key state institutions—including the judiciary, armed forces, police, education sector, and media—over several decades.

The group operated through covert channels, using code names and encrypted messaging platforms such as ByLock to coordinate activities.

While presenting itself publicly through schools, business associations, and civil society organisations, FETÖ allegedly sought to take control of the state apparatus from within.

Following the failed coup, Turkish authorities launched a wide-ranging investigation, resulting in mass dismissals from public service and the prosecution of thousands suspected of affiliation with the group.

By Aghakazim Guliyev