PURGE

Turkey Detains 1,000 ‘Secret Imams’

Officials: Suspects infiltrated police on behalf of U.S.-based cleric.

Turkish officials on Wednesday said they have arrested more than 1,000 people who they claim secretly infiltrated law enforcement throughout the country on behalf of Fethullah Gulen, a U.S.-based cleric who Turkey’s government blames for a failed coup last summer. Gulen is a former ally of President Tayyip Erdogan, but officials have accused him of organizing the attempted coup in July. Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu told reporters that the crackdown, which happened overnight, targeted Gulen’s alleged network, which “infiltrated our police force.” He added, “One thousand and nine secret imams have been detained so far in 72 provinces, and the operation is ongoing.” Authorities have, since July, arrested more than 40,000 people—including teachers, soldiers, police officers, and public servants—over purported ties to terrorist groups.