20 Gülenist ‘mentors’ detained in operations in 30 provinces

KONYA

Turkish police on Dec. 20 detained 20 people accused of being Gülenist “mentors” (abiler) tasked with guiding personnel in the Air Force, as prosecutors in Konya launched an operation against 120 suspects in 30 provinces.Detention orders for 120 people came after 180 Air Force personnel, who were previously detained as part of the probe into the movement of U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen, testified that they had superior mentors who led them during their activities in the outlawed organization.According to a statement by the soldiers, these mentors changed from time to time and were tasked with engaging students who were to be admitted to military academies.It was also alleged that these mentors were assigned official state roles after 2009 in order to not attract attention in their mentoring activities.Testimonies said the identified suspects had aided military students in İzmir with lodging and were using residences rented for the students as gathering places for organization members.