Turkish court remands 12 former Zaman staff

By Murat Kaya

ISTANBUL

An Istanbul court has remanded in custody a dozen former employees of Zaman, a Turkish newspaper until recently linked to the Fetullah Gulen network – an organization accused of being behind July 15’s defeated coup.

The 12 suspects – including columnist Mumtazer Turkone – were charged with having links to the group and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen.

On July 27, Istanbul prosecutors ordered the detention of 47 former Zaman staff. Following the court order, 21 suspects were held; 18 have been remanded in custody since then.

The newspaper's management was taken over in March when an Istanbul court appointed trustees to the Feza Gazetecilik Media Group, which includes Zaman. The publication itself was later closed down.

Feza Gazetecilik Media Group was accused of supporting the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), headed by Gulen, which has allegedly infiltrated Turkey’s state apparatus with thousands of followers in an effort to overthrow the government.

Following the failed coup, which martyred at least 239 people and left thousands of others wounded, Turkey sent the U.S. an official request for Gulen’s extradition.