Associated Press: Chief adviser to Turkish prime minister detained

By Associated Press.

Published June 3, 2017 at 5:36 pm

Turkish cleric and opponent to the Erdogan regime Fethullah Gulen adresses at his residence in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania on July 18, 2016 allegations by the Turkish government about his involvement in the attempted July 15 coup.

Photo by AFP

ISTANBUL – Turkey’s official news agency says the chief adviser to the prime minister has been detained for alleged links to U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, who is blamed by the government for last summer’s coup attempt.

Anadolu news agency said Birol Erdem, who currently advises Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, was taken into custody in Ankara Saturday along with his wife. They are being investigated for their suspected membership in Gulen’s movement, which Turkey considers a terror group.