Major operation against DEAŞ in Istanbul: 17 detentions

A large-scale operation coordinated by the Istanbul Cumhuriyet Başsavcılığı Terör Suçları Soruşturma Bürosu has dealt a significant blow to the activities of the DEAŞ terrorist organization in Istanbul. In a joint effort by the Istanbul Emniyet Müdürlüğü’s Terörle Mücadele and İstihbarat Şube Müdürlüğü units, many suspects were targeted, including Muhammed Orhan Küçük, who was determined to be in a so-called leadership position within the organizational hierarchy and worked as a taxi driver. It was determined that the suspects used illegal associations and mosques to spread radical religious discourse and provide financing.

Within the scope of the operation, it was revealed that the suspects organized various courses and conversation programs at illegal mosques to spread organizational propaganda and recruit new members. It was determined that through this structure, money was collected on behalf of the organization using concepts such as fitre, zekat, and infak, and the money was used to sustain illegal activities. Additionally, it was obtained that the suspects defended the view that the state was not governed by Islamic rulings, gave a legitimate image in society, and engaged in radicalization activities.

In simultaneous operations across Istanbul, raids were conducted on 43 different addresses to detain 42 suspects conducting DEAŞ-aligned activities. During the address searches, numerous digital materials and weapons were seized, and in the first phase of the operation, 39 suspects were detained. After their statements and interrogations at the police station, the judicial process was initiated for the suspects, and they were sent to the courthouse to be brought before a judge.

Following the completion of the judicial process and evaluation by the court trying the suspects, a decision was made to arrest 17 suspects and send them to prison due to organization membership and terrorist activities. Stronger detention measures were applied to the suspects who were arrested due to their active roles within the organization and evidence regarding the elements of crime, while the situation of other suspects was evaluated by the judgeship within the framework of the presumption of innocence and judicial control rules.

Regarding the other 22 suspects released by the court, they were released subject to judicial control conditions such as a ban on traveling abroad and the obligation to sign in at regular intervals. This operation is significant as a part of measures taken against terrorist organizations operating and securing financing through legal-looking structures in Istanbul. It is stated that the investigation continues to delve into the details of the incident and decode the organization's connections, and that the examination of the seized digital materials continues.