Wiretapping Operation: 26 Detained

26 individuals including police commissioners have been detained as of this morning within an operation based in the western province of Izmir and 10 other cities on “illegal wiretappings”. 

The detention order has been issued by Izmir Prosecutor’s Office. It was claimed that among the detainees included police officers and commissioners who have been accused of similar charges in August. 

According to Hürriyet newspaper, it was claimed that the detainees have wiretapped public officers, journalists and businesspeople under hoax names that they declared to prosecutors.  

Turkey’s famous whistleblower under the twitter account Fuat Avni announced the operation last night. Some of the tweets he sent were as follows:  

“When [Interior Minister] Ala’s order on ‘There won’t be an operation against PKK’ was decrypted, the capital had troubles.

“An operation order has been given to change the agenda [in Turkey]. 

“A call traffic took place on the pending operation files. 

“Information has been gathered on the files. I didn’t write until now to acquire the accurate information.

“Even though some [cells in small] cities informed that they are ready, it was ordered to be a big city to bring reaction. 

“When Istanbul and Ankara was caught unprepared, it was a necessity to take it to Izmir.

“Tomorrow, there will be an operation against those who have been initially detained in Izmir. There are few new names on the list.” (EKN/BM)

* Photo credit: Emin Mengüarslan/ AA

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.