Turkish authorities conduct mass arrests linked to FETO

Turkish authorities have launched a nationwide operation against the FETO network across 81 provinces, coinciding with the tenth anniversary of the July 15, 2016, attempted coup. Officials reported that 973 arrest warrants were issued, leading to the detention of 704 individuals so far. Among those arrested are 170 active public servants, including personnel from the Interior and Justice Ministries, as well as police officers and prison staff. The remaining 269 suspects are currently being sought by security forces. The Turkish government, led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, maintains that the FETO network, formerly associated with the late preacher Fethullah Gulen, was responsible for the 2016 coup attempt. Justice Minister Akin Gurlek and Interior Ministry officials have characterized the operation as a campaign to eliminate the organization's influence. Since 2016, the government has engaged in extensive purges across the military, judiciary, and civil service, resulting in hundreds of thousands of arrests and dismissals over the past decade.