Turkish police today raided three major courts in Istanbul in search of more than 170 suspects wanted over last month’s attempted coup, reports said.
Advertisement
Anadolou says the companies were accused of giving financial support to the movement of US-based Muslim cleric Fetullah Gulen.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Gulen of attempting to infiltrate in several state institutions and building a “parallel structure”, with the final objective of taking over the state power.
The Turkish government accused Gulen and his terrorist sympathizers of putting together the coup attempt on July 15. Tens of thousands more people with suspected links to Gulen have been suspended or dismissed from their jobs in the judiciary, media, education, health care, military and local government.
Gulen denies any involvement in the coup; however, Turkey is still demanding his extradition from the U.S.
Police were searching offices at the main courthouse in Istanbul’s Caglayan district as well as at two other courthouses on the European side of the city, Anadolu said.
His followers are alleged to have set up a parallel state. Gulen was once an Erdogan ally but after a fallout over corruption allegations, Erdogan has repeatedly claimed Gulen is seeking to topple the government. A top United Nations rights official last week warned against a “thirst for revenge”.
Any purge of business in Turkey risks alienating foreign investors.
It said the ban, applying to all media, was taken to ensure that the investigation was sound and conducted in secrecy.
Ekrem Beyaztas was caught by border guards just south of the Turkish town of Kilis, a Turkish official said, asking not to be named.
One factor that may dissuade the United States authorities from extraditing him is that the Turkish parliament is expected to consider bringing back the death penalty.
Advertisement
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has hinted at bringing back the death penalty for punishing coup participants.
