Istanbul — Turkish security forces arrested 158 military personnel today on charges of supporting Fethullah Gülen in the failed 2016 coup attempt against President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government. The arrests were announced by the Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office, with 18 additional suspects still at large and actively being pursued by police.
Fethullah Gülen, once a close ally of Erdoğan, became a prominent critic and was accused by the Turkish government of masterminding the coup attempt that shook Turkey in July 2016. Gülen relocated to the United States in 1999 and remained there until his recent death last year. Despite his physical absence, the Turkish government has consistently blamed his movement for orchestrating the uprising against Erdoğan’s administration.
The crackdown against suspected Gülen supporters has been ongoing for nearly a decade. Since the failed coup, Turkish authorities have detained nearly 26,000 individuals accused of involvement, with more than 9,000 convicted and imprisoned. The government describes these measures as necessary to protect national security and prevent further destabilization.
This recent wave of arrests comes after a similar crackdown last month when approximately 50 soldiers were detained for alleged links to the Gülen network. The Turkish military and judiciary continue to monitor and investigate suspected sympathizers within their ranks to root out any remaining threats to the state.
The ongoing purge highlights the tense political climate in Turkey, as President Erdoğan consolidates power and tightens control over state institutions to ensure loyalty and stability within the country.