Turkey: 1500+ held for promoting terror on social media

By Orhan Onur Gemici

ANKARA

Over the last six months more than 1,500 people have been taken into custody on charges of promoting terrorism on social media, according to the Turkish Interior Ministry.

The ministry said in a statement Saturday that a total of 3,710 suspects have faced investigations over spreading terrorist propaganda on social media over the last six months while 1,656 of them were remanded in custody, and 1,203 were released on condition of judicial control, along with 767 others released without such controls.

The remaining 84 suspects are still being questioned by police, the statement added.

Last month, 13 opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) lawmakers were arrested and 10 others, including Co-Chairs Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag, remain in custody awaiting trial on terrorism-related charges.

The lawmakers face prosecution under anti-terrorism legislation after their parliamentary immunity was lifted earlier this year.

The government has accused the HDP of being linked to the PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and EU.