Istanbul (AsiaNews) - On the eve of presidential elections,
the Turkish police have launched a
thorough investigation into the Hizmet
movement of Fethullah Gulen, one-time ally
and now staunch
opponent of Prime Minister Erdogan.
The former supporter of the ruling party, in self-imposed exile in the United States,
is accused of plotting to overthrow the
government and the secular state.
The daily newspaper Hurriyet reports that a written order has been sent to police departments in 30 provinces, to
investigate whether the movement is working to forcibly take control of the state by
distorting the existing constitutional
order. The order, which bears the
date of June 25, also calls on
the police to investigate whether
Hizmet is an
armed group or had a role in a series of murders that
have rocked Turkey in recent
years, including the 2007 murder
of the Armenian journalist Hrant Dink.
The inquiry is a step up in judicial pressure
against Hizmet ahead
of presidential elections next August
in which Erdogan formally
launched his candidacy last week -
and is considered the favorite - despite the scandals
and allegations of corruption that have dogged the last year and the frequent
protests against his rule.
The police have also been asked to gather information on members of
associations affiliated to the
movement, including students of
schools Gulen owns and academics who do research with Hizmet.