Lawyer to Turkish opposition leader arrested in Ankara

By Mustafa Hatipoglu and Muhammed Enes Can

ISTANBUL (AA) - The lawyer for the leader of the main opposition party was arrested early Friday over alleged ties to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), a court official said.

Celal Celik, who represents Kemal Kilicdaroglu, head of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), was arrested at his home in the capital Ankara, the official said on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media.

He was detained as part of an investigation by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office into lawyers thought to be linked to FETO, the group led by U.S.-based Fetullah Gulen that is said to have been behind last year’s defeated coup.

Police are conducting a search at Celik’s home and he is due to be transferred to Istanbul, the official added.

The July 15 coup attempt saw 250 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured as rogue military units led by alleged FETO officers attempted to seize power.

FETO is accused of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.