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November 07, 2025 – Turkey –
Over the past two weeks, Turkish authorities detained a total of 178 individuals in nationwide operations targeting affiliates of the Fethullah Gülen-linked group, known in Türkiye as the Fethullahist Terror Organisation (FETÖ). According to a statement issued by Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, out of the 178 detainees, Turkish courts have formally ordered the arrest of 67 suspects. The operations form part of a continuing crackdown launched by the government, which has for years held the FETÖ responsible for the failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016.
Security forces reported that the sweeping raids were conducted across multiple provinces, including attempts by some suspects to flee the country. Some detainees were intercepted on routes heading toward Greece, according to law enforcement. The interior ministry described the operation as necessary to “prevent ongoing threats to national security and the constitutional order,” echoing earlier purges since the coup attempt and reinforcing the government’s narrative of combating an organised movement embedded within state and civilian institutions.
Rights groups and press freedom observers have long raised concerns about the broad definition of “terrorist organisation” applied to alleged FETÖ networks, arguing that the net has ensnared educators, journalists, civil servants, and military personnel with limited transparency or due-process guarantees. The latest wave of arrests comes amid renewed scrutiny of how anti-terror legislation is applied and who remains eligible for detention or prosecution under sweeping national-security powers.
While the government argues that ending FETÖ’s influence remains vital to national stability, critics caution that arresting dozens of people with limited public information creates risks of rights violations—even as courts move swiftly to formalise arrests. The minister’s announcement underscores the state’s continued focus on the FETÖ threat, but also signals an escalation of tactics being used in recent years.
For media and civil-society groups monitoring Türkiye’s press environment, these developments reinforce concerns over the shrinking space for independent reporting—especially when journalists or educators are caught up in broader counter-terror sweeps. Independent observers will be watching closely how many detainees proceed to trial, the evidence presented, and whether legal norms are upheld moving forward.
Reference –
Turkey arrests 67 among 178 detained in 2 weeks of operations targeting Gülen movement
Turkey arrests 67 among 178 detained in 2 weeks of operations targeting Gülen movement
