Ergenekon

The first trials of the thousands of suspects arrested in the wake of Turkey's failed July 15 coup attempt will begin in early 2017, the chief Ankara prosecutor said on Nov. 3.

Turkish daily Cumhuriyet, which saw a wave of detentions targeting executives and columnists early on Oct. 31, has published reports aimed at "stirring public disorder in line with the aims of the Fethullahist Terror Organization (FETÖ)," according to the probe's prosecutor.

Former chief of General Staff Gen. Işık Koşaner has said the reason behind his 2011 resignation was to avoid pressure from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) to make him appoint and retire army officers who were, at the time, suspected of planning to overthrow the government. 

Former chief of General Staff Gen. Işık Koşaner has said the reason behind his 2011 resignation was to avoid pressure from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) to make him appoint and retire army officers who were, at the time, suspected of planning to overthrow the government. 

A former head of the army who vocally opposed the Gülenist network and who was imprisoned on fabricated evidence at the alleged behest of the group failed to attend a parliamentary commission set to investigate the July 15 coup attempt, which was blamed on the community, due to health reasons.

In the new bill prepared by the Justice Ministry, even though there are positive aspects, there are also quite a few concerning articles. 

It is as if the Justice Ministry wishes to normalize the laws made under the state of emergency and is consequently introducing amendments in criminal and procedural laws. 

Turkey's Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) dismissed 66 more judges and prosecutors on Oct. 5 over their links to the movement of Fethullah Gülen, the U.S.-based Islamic preacher who is seen as the main suspect behind the July 15 coup attempt.

"Gülen schools are the best educational institutions in certain countries. There have never been complaints about them. In addition, Gülenists have been preaching for peace, interfaith dialogue and respect for non-Muslim minorities. And they have never resorted to violence. How can we call them terrorists all of a sudden?" is a question I come across in Western circles.

Istanbul prosecutors have decided to include the Ergenekon, Balyoz and Military Espionage investigations and prosecutions, which saw the arrest and trial of hundreds of mostly military personnel, in the main July 15 coup attempt investigation dossier upon the suspicion that all these former cases constituted the deadly takeover bid's preparation actions. 

The overturning by Turkey's top court of appeal of the so-called "Ergenekon coup plot trial," which was initiated in 2007 and lasted until 2011, is being hailed as one of the most significant legal developments in recent Turkish history.