Ministry of Interior: 229 People Detained Over Coronavirus Posts

* News & Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

The Ministry of Interior has announced that 616 suspects sharing "unfounded and provocative social media messages about coronavirus" have been identified and 229 of them have been taken into custody.

In a statement released by the Ministry, it has been announced that over the last 21 days, 3 thousand 576 social media accounts have been probed by the Department for Fighting Against Cyber Crimes in relation with the "provocative messages about coronavirus."

While 616 suspects have been identified, 229 of them have been detained in operations. The judicial proceedings against the other suspects are still underway, according to the Ministry's statement.

'FETÖ, PKK, marginal groups...'

In referring to the social media posts in question, the Ministry of Interior has argued that they were made by the "Fethullahist Terrorist Organization/Parallel State Structure (FETÖ/PDY), Kurdistan Workers Party/Kurdish Communities Union (PKK/KCK) and marginal groups."

According to the statement of the Ministry, the messages were posted "by sharing unreal images and voice records claiming that the necessary/ adequate measures are not taken by the related institutions or officials and that the truths are hidden from the public and, thereby, aiming to incite the public to fear, panic and worry on social media and targeting authorized/responsible persons and institutions before the public." (TP/SD)