Crackdown on Journalists Over Gülen-Related Condolences Intensifies in Turkey

In recent days, two journalists have faced legal action in Turkey for publicly expressing condolences over the death of Fethullah Gülen, the exiled cleric and leader of the Hizmet movement, which the Turkish government has labelled a ‘terrorist’ organization.

On October 22, journalist Aysın Komitgan was released with judicial control measures, including a travel ban and weekly reporting obligations. Komitgan expressed sympathy for Gülen’s death during a live broadcast, saying, “May he rest in peace.” The Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office of Bursa opened an investigation against her for making propaganda for the Gülen movement. Komitgan later clarified that her remarks were made in haste during a live broadcast and were misunderstood, as she strongly opposes Gülen and his actions against Turkey. Nevertheless, her employer dismissed her in light of the controversy.

Meanwhile, in a separate but related case, Kazım Güleçyüz, the editor-in-chief of the Yeni Asya newspaper, and three others were arrested during a coordinated operation across Istanbul, Bursa, and Manisa. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office ordered the arrests of 15 suspects overall, four of whom were specifically detained for praising Gülen in social media posts following his reported death. Güleçyüz and the other detainees are now under investigation for promoting the Gülenist ideology, and they are being questioned at the Istanbul Anti-Terror Branch. Authorities report that the detained individuals had been previously identified as having ties to FETÖ and using encrypted communication methods associated with the organization.

These developments underscore the Turkish government’s ongoing crackdown on perceived supporters of the Gülen Movement since the failed 2016 coup, which officials allege was orchestrated by Gülen’s followers. The movement, once closely aligned with the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), saw its influence collapse after the 2013 corruption investigations, which targeted figures close to then-Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The aftermath of the 2016 coup attempt has led to the dismissal or suspension of over 150,000 public sector employees, with tens of thousands arrested on accusations of links to the Gülen network. Despite these efforts, the Turkish government continues to monitor and crack down on expressions of support for the Gülen movement, including on social media, as seen in these recent cases.