Turkey: Arrest warrants out for 44 soldiers over FETO

GAZIANTEP, Turkey

Arrest warrants were issued for 44 on-duty soldiers across Turkey over their suspected links to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the 2016 defeated coup in Turkey, security sources said Tuesday.

Prosecutors in southeastern Gaziantep province issued arrest warrants for 23 suspects, who were found to have communicated with "covert imams" -- senior FETO members -- using pay phones, said one of the source who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to media.

So far, 10 suspects have been arrested in police operations conducted in 15 provinces.

Also, prosecutors in northwestern Canakkale province issued arrest warrants for 21 soldiers, who were allegedly serving as FETO’s covert imams, said another source.

So far, nine suspects have been arrested in simultaneous police operations conducted in 11 provinces and in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

The operation is underway to nab the remaining suspects.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

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

*Writing by Zehra Nur Duz, Faruk Zorlu