Istanbul court releases former football player

By Muhammed Enes Can and Murat Kaya

ISTANBUL

A court in Istanbul released former football player Zafer Biryol under judicial control on Tuesday, according to a judicial source.

Biryol, who used to play for Turkish clubs Konyaspor and Fenerbahce, was arrested on Nov. 17 on orders of the Istanbul Public Prosecutor's Office for suspected links with the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO).

He was also accused of using ByLock, an encrypted smartphone messaging app used by FETO members, and of being a member of a terrorist organization.

ByLock is believed to have been cracked by Turkish security agencies, allowing them to identify tens of thousands of suspected FETO supporters.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the attempted coup, which left 250 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

FETO is also accused of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.