Türkiye targets FETÖ terrorist organisation in sweeping nationwide operation VIDEO

Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya has announced that Türkiye successfully carried out a significant operation targeting the terrorist organisation FETÖ, spanning 27 provinces across the country.

The operation led to the detention of 73 suspects, Caliber.Az reports via the minister’s message on X.

The operations were conducted in major cities, including Ankara, Istanbul, and Izmir. Out of the 73 detained individuals, 48 have been arrested, while 16 others have been placed under judicial supervision. The suspects face a range of charges linked to their involvement in FETÖ’s covert "military structure". They are also accused of maintaining connections with senior members of the organization via payphones, using the encrypted communication application ByLock, providing financial support to the terrorist group, and promoting FETÖ’s ideology through social media accounts.

FETÖ is a clandestine and controversial movement led by Fethullah Gülen, a former Turkish cleric and educator, who has lived in self-imposed exile in the United States since 1999. The group is considered by the Turkish government as a terrorist organization due to its involvement in several illegal activities, including the 2016 coup attempt in Türkiye, which resulted in over 300 deaths and thousands of injuries. The movement's roots trace back to the 1970s, with Gülen's teachings focusing on a blend of Islamic faith and moderate values. 

Over the years, FETÖ grew into a transnational organization, operating in more than 150 countries, with an estimated 10,000 schools, charities, and media outlets globally, though many have been shut down in Türkiye and abroad following the coup attempt. FETÖ’s most significant operations in Türkiye revolved around infiltrating key state institutions, including the military, judiciary, police, and education systems.

By Naila Huseynova