Woman detained in north over suspected links to Gulen

Authorities in the north have arrested and detained a woman suspected of belonging to ‘Feto’, short for ‘Fetullah terrorist organisation’.

According to Turkish Cypriot media, the woman, Emel Adsiz, was arrested over the weekend.

She later appeared in a court, which ordered she be remanded in custody for three days.

She denies the accusations against her.

Adsiz is the spouse of Osman Adsiz, one of two men arrested in the north last week on suspicion of ties to US-based cleric Fetullah Gulen.

Reports said she surrendered herself to the police in the north after a warrant was issued for her arrest.

Authorities decided to arrest her after searching through her husband’s computer and mobile phone, where they tracked conversations between Osman Adsiz and a woman he referred to as ‘abla,’ or ‘elder sister’ in Turkish.

Reports said the Adsiz couple communicated using ByLock, an encrypted smart-phone application said to be used by Gulenists.

Last year, following the coup of 15-16 July, Turkish authorities claimed they identified thousands of undercover Gulenist operatives after cracking the messaging app.

Turkey blames followers of Gulen for the attempted coup. Gulen denies any connection to the plot.

In January this year, nine colonels serving in the north were arrested after an investigation linked them to the alleged terror organisation.

 

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