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Turkish minister: 48,305 people jailed in 2017 over Gülen links

Turkish Minister of Interior, Süleyman Soylu (Emin Sansar / Anadolu Agency)

Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu on Friday said 48,305 people were jailed in 2017 alone as part of investigations into the faith-based Gülen movement, the Karar daily reported.

The Gülen movement is accused by the Turkish government of masterminding a coup attempt on July 15, 2016. The movement strongly denies any involvement.

Soylu said on Dec. 12 that 55,665 people have been jailed and 234,419 passports have been revoked as part of investigations into the movement since the failed coup.

The state-run Anadolu news agency reported on Dec. 27 that a total of 62,895 people were detained in 2017 as part of a witch-hunt targeting the Gülen movement.

Minister Soylu on Nov. 16 had said eight holdings and 1,020 companies were seized as part of operations against the movement.

The Justice Ministry announced on July 13 that 169,013 people have been the subject of legal proceedings on coup charges since the failed coup.

Turkey has suspended or dismissed more than 150,000 judges, teachers, police and civil servants since July 15 through government decrees issued as part of an ongoing state of emergency declared after the coup attempt.

According to Ministry of Justice data, there are currently 384 prisons with a capacity of 207,279 in Turkey; however, the total number of inmates was 228,983 as of October 2017.

The Ministry of Justice plans to build 228 new prisons with a capacity of 137,687 in the next five years.

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