Turkey Shuts Down the Gül-Job Shuffle
On Tuesday, the administration went full-sail on a wave that caught 1,112 people in its net. State media said the crackdown was a follow‑up to alleged exam‑cheating that has been the backbone of Turkey’s long‑standing fight against those labeled as allies of US‑based preacher Fethullah Gül.
What’s the Backstory?
- After the 2016 coup attempt that cost more than 250 lives, Turkey’s leaders have been on a relentless purge spree.
- Gül, once a confidant to President Erdogan, has lived under self‑imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999, denying any hand in the failed uprising.
- It turns out exam‑cheating—particularly a 2010 police exam for deputy inspectors—might have helped a network of Gül supporters plant themselves deep inside state machinery.
How the Operation Unfolded
The Ankara chief prosecutor’s office launched a legal blitz spread across 76 provinces. 124 suspects were booked as of the latest count—though the exact number of current police officers among them remains a mystery.
Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu was already warning: “We’re about to hit a big operation. Those devilish schemers will not pull another trick— we’ll finish them off.”
What’s Been Done Since the Coup?
- More than 77,000 people are incarcerated, awaiting trial.
- The government has fished out or fired 150,000 civil servants and military personnel, including over 15,000 military folks—150 generals and admirals wading in the mix.
- Hundreds of companies allegedly linked to Gül have been seized, and 130 media outlets were shut down.
Drama Beyond Borders
Turkey isn’t just looking domestic. The city of Ankara is hunting Gül’s supporters overseas, seeking extraditions—including Gül himself—across Europe, Asia, and the United States.
In sum, the Turkish state is on a relentless campaign to wipe out what it calls a “parallel state” built on deep‑rooted exam fraud and clandestine alliances. The tense world watches as this internal purge continues to ripple across the globe.
