Turkey on Tuesday ordered the detention of 44 active duty soldiers as part of a massive post-coup crackdown targeting faith-based Gülen movement followers.
Ankara accuses the movement of orchestrating a 2016 coup attempt, although it strongly denies any involvement.
Since then over half a million people have been investigated for alleged membership in the Gülen movement.
The Çanakkale Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday issued detention warrants for 21 soldiers over Gülen links, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.
The police conducted detention operations in 11 provinces as well as requesting detentions in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC), the report said.
The Gaziantep Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office also issued detention warrants for 23 soldiers due to alleged Gülen ties.
The police raided residences in 15 provinces, taking at least 10 suspects into custody, according to the report.
