Nine FETÖ Suspects Caught Trying to Flee Türkiye off Muğla Coast

Turkish security forces detained nine people linked to the Gülenist Terror Group, known as FETÖ, after allegedly intercepting them as they tried to leave Türkiye by boat off the Muğla coast.

The group was among 12 people stopped near the Datça district. The others were two children and the captain of the Russian-flagged vessel Peter Pan, which coast guard teams intercepted near international waters after receiving information about its location. The children were handed over to relatives.

The Muğla Chief Public Prosecutor's Office said the nine suspects had previously faced proceedings over alleged membership in FETÖ, and that their cases were pending appeal. Authorities determined that they were preparing to leave the country illegally. Separate legal proceedings were launched against them over the alleged attempt.

The captain was detained and is being investigated on suspicion of aiding a terrorist group and migrant smuggling. FETÖ has faced intensified scrutiny since the coup attempt that killed 251 people and injured nearly 2,200 others. Tens of thousands of people were detained, arrested or dismissed from public-sector jobs under the state of emergency that followed. Authorities continue to carry out operations against the group, while an unknown number of members, mostly high-ranking figures, fled Türkiye after the coup attempt was thwarted.