Turkey: 2 linked to controversial Twitter posts jailed

Istanbul court also orders release of 29 suspects linked to Fuat Avni's Twitter account
Turkey: 2 linked to controversial Twitter posts jailed

A court in Istanbul on Sunday sent two suspects, accused of being connected to a known FETO-linked Twitter account, to jail pending trial, according to a police source.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to not being authorized to talk to the media, said the Istanbul police department’s organized crimes bureau had carried out operations in Istanbul, Ankara, Van, Mersin, Kocaeli, Izmir, Bursa, Rize, Amasya and Hatay provinces, aimed at determining the identity of a controversial Twitter account who uses the name Fuat Avni on the social media website.

In total, 31 suspects were held since Friday.

The court ordered the release of 29 suspects, six of whom would remain under judicial control.

The deadly coup attempt occurred late on Friday, July 15, 2016 when rogue elements of the Turkish military tried to overthrow the country's democratically elected government.

Turkey's government has repeatedly said the deadly plot on July 15, which martyred at least 246 people and injured more than 2,100 others, was organized by followers of U.S.-based preacher Fetullah Gulen.

Gulen is also accused of a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary, forming what is commonly known as the “parallel state”.