Turkey had already Saturday detained one of Gulen’s nephews.
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The deadly coup attempt began late on July 15 when rogue elements of the Turkish military tried to overthrow the country’s democratically elected government, killing 246 people and injuring more than 2,100 others.
His nephew, Muhammed Sait Gulen, was detained in the northeastern Turkish city of Erzurum and will be brought to the capital Ankara for questioning, Anadolu reported.
Among possible charges that could be brought against him is membership of a “terrorist” organisation, the agency said, adding that he was also wanted over the leak of questions from the 2010 civil service exams.
Also on Saturday, Ankara’s chief prosecutor Harun Kodalak was reported by Turkish media as saying that 1,200 soldiers detained in the wake of the coup had been released. President Barack Obama says there is a legal process for extradition and has encouraged Turkey to present whatever evidence it has against Gulen. Halis Hanci, described as the cleric’s right-hand man, apparently entered Turkey two days before the abortive coup, the official told reporters. Banners were hung on road bridges, subways and advertising boards around Istanbul with the words “Hakimiyet Milletindir” (The People Rule).
Before the July 15 coup attempt, Turkey’s detention period without charges was 24 hours, extendable to up to four days. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said that the presidential guard regiment will be disbanded, the Anadolu news agency said on Saturday citing the Turkish NTV channel. “Our goal is that it shouldn’t be extended, but if the need arises it may of course be extended”, he said in an interview with the ATV television station.
Since the coup, massive crowds of flag-waving Erdogan supporters have taken to the streets night after night to celebrate their leader. Turkey plans to dismantle the special presidential guard, he added.
“Some European colleagues think this is a Pokemon game, this coup attempt”, said Omer Celik Turkey’s minister for EU affairs.
A state of emergency was declared on Wednesday, allowing the president and cabinet to bypass parliament when drafting new laws and to restrict or suspend rights and freedoms.
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Amid the turmoil, strains have also grown with the U.S. – which relies on Turkish bases to launch airstrikes against the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq – as Erdogan has repeatedly demanded it extradite Gulen.
