World · Middle East · 10 hrs ago
Turkey detains 72 over alleged Gülen links; 41 jailed pending trial
Turkish gendarmes detained 72 people in operations across 32 provinces over alleged links to the Gülen movement.
Courts jailed 41 pending trial, while legal procedures for the other 31 continue.
Authorities accused some detainees of working for the movement, contacting its coordinators, supporting affiliated charities or posting propaganda, but did not say which allegations applied to whom.
The Gülen movement denies involvement in terrorism or the 2016 coup attempt that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan blamed on it.
The government designated the movement a terrorist organization in 2016 and has pursued a broad crackdown since the coup attempt.
More than 127,000 people have been convicted over alleged links since 2016, according to justice ministry figures; investigations or trials involving another 83,404 remain ongoing.
The remaining detainees’ legal procedures are continuing, and authorities have not provided further details about the evidence seized.
Turkish authorities detained 72 people in operations over alleged links to the Gülen movement, and courts ordered 41 jailed pending trial.
Gendarmes conducted the operations in 32 provinces, including İstanbul, Ankara, İzmir and Diyarbakır.
The Interior Ministry alleged activities including contact with movement coordinators, financial support for affiliated charities and social media posts it described as terrorist propaganda.
The ministry did not say which allegations applied to individual detainees or detail the evidence cited.
The Gülen movement denies involvement in the 2016 coup attempt and any terrorist activity.
- Who
- Turkish authorities detained 72 people over alleged links to the Gülen movement; courts ordered 41 jailed pending trial.
- What
- Gendarmes carried out operations, and legal procedures for the other 31 people were continuing.
- When
- November 2, 2026.
- Where
- 32 provinces in Turkey, including İstanbul, Ankara, İzmir and Diyarbakır.
- Why
- Authorities alleged that the detainees had links to or carried out activities on behalf of the Gülen movement.
Turkish government
Gülen movement
Alleged conduct
Turkish government
The Interior Ministry alleged that detainees carried out activities for the movement, contacted its coordinators, supported affiliated charities financially and posted terrorist propaganda.
Gülen movement
The movement denies involvement in terrorist activity.
Coup attempt
Turkish government
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan accused Gülen of orchestrating the July 2016 coup attempt.
Gülen movement
The movement denies involvement in the attempted coup.
Corruption investigations implicated Gülen and some members of his family and inner circle.
Erdoğan designated the Gülen movement as a terrorist organization.
A coup attempt took place, which Erdoğan accused Gülen of orchestrating; the movement denied involvement.
Fethullah Gülen died.
Authorities announced that 72 people had been detained and 41 jailed pending trial.
- Detained
- 72 people
- Jailed pending trial
- 41 people
- Other detainees
- 31; legal procedures were continuing
- Operations
- 32 provinces
- Named provinces
- İstanbul, Ankara, İzmir and Diyarbakır
3 sources
What people are saying
In operations conducted by our Gendarmerie in 32 provinces targeting FETÖ, 72 suspects were apprehended. 41 of the suspects were arrested. Procedures for the others are continuing.