Court releases all detained in Gülen-linked operation in central Turkey

KAYSERİ – Doğan News Agency

Four of the seven people detained earlier this week in a police operation against a purported Gülen-linked “terrorist organization” were released early on Sept. 18. The three other high-profile suspects were released on Sept. 17, including Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜSİAD) Executive Board Member and Boydak Holding CEO Memduh Boydak.

The four suspects released on Sept. 18 are all officials at Melikşah University in the Central Anatolian province of Kayseri, and were released after appearing at the Kayseri 3rd Criminal Court of Peace.

They were originally detained in a raid operation targeting a purported organization that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Justice and Development Party (AKP) describe as the “Pro-Fetullah Terror Organization,” claimed to be headed by ally-turned-nemesis, the U.S.-based Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen.

Memduh Boydak, the head of Melikşah University’s board of trustees, said upon his release on Sept. 18 that he would never have imagined being tried in such a case at the time of the university’s foundation. 

“I sincerely answered all questions [from police] about Melikşah University and I would like to express my gratitude for supportive actions from the business world, several business organizations, and political parties,” Boydak said.

TÜSİAD, Turkey’s top business organization, issued a press statement on Sept. 16 to express its concern over the detainment of Boydak, one of the members of its executive board.

“We would like to raise concern over the dark atmosphere continually threatening the business world with severe accusations. We urge that these kinds of events be ended,” TÜSİAD said in the statement.

Turkish police detained seven people in the Central Anatolian province of Kayseri, including Boydak and officials from the Melikşah University, in the operation on Sept. 16.

Boydak, Kayseri Chamber of Commerce Speaker Mehmet Filiz and businessman Ahmet Türkmen were released on probation after giving their testimonies on Sept. 17.