Are Turkey’s Prisoners Hostages?


Date posted: November 16, 2016

Michael Rubin

Rumors have circulated throughout Turkey that, under the guise of averting a prison riot, Erdogan might order his forces to fire on the prisons. It is not a scenario beyond the realm of possibility; after all, the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi did something similar, killing more than 1,000 political prisoners.

Now, it seems, that members of Erdogan’s ruling party are making explicit the threat to kill prisoners. Hüseyin Kocabiyik, a member of parliament, tweeted that if there is any assassination attempt on Erdogan (an event that is certainly in the realm of possibility) the result would be the slaughter of the prisoners by forces loyal to Erdogan.

The case against the political prisoners was tenuous at best: No one beyond Turkey’s leader believes 100,000+ people were involved in a secret coup attempt. Their imprisonment—and increasing reports of torture in prison—make clear the purpose is vengeance for the sin of opposing Erdogan’s agenda. That one of Erdogan’s party colleagues now suggests their murder should raise concerns not only in Turkey but across the region. Responsible NATO members should not hold hostages.

Source: Commentary Magazine , November 15, 2016

Tags: | | |


Related News

Fethullah Gulen Denies Coup Involvement

Fethullah Gulen, a Muslim cleric living in self-exile in the U.S. and a political rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, insisted Saturday that he had no involvement in Friday’s attempted coup.

Ex-CIA Director: Mike Flynn and Turkish Officials Discussed Removal of Gulen from U.S. without Going through Legal Process

James Woolsey says he attended a September meeting where other participants, including then-Trump adviser Mike Flynn, talked of moving Fethullah Gulen back to Turkey without going through U.S. extradition process.

Informant on Gülen movement members says he fabricated testimony to avoid jail time

İbrahim Demirtaş, a major in the Turkish military who testified as an informant in investigations into sympathizers of the faith-based Gülen movement, has admitted that his statements were false and made in order to avoid prosecution and jail time.

Hakan Şükür’s resignation: Rebellion of a conscience

Take a look at his wedding photo: on one side of a table is Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen and on the other is Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. That photo reflects the feelings of millions. Şükür’s resignation is a sign that to him, that photo was torn up. If the government continues to keep up its hostile attitude against the Hizmet movement led by Gülen, millions will experience the same feeling. The real risk is here.

Koza gold firm starts up company in UK

The gold company, whose owner Akın İpek is known to have close ties with Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen’s Hizmet (Service) movement, has been hit by the suspension of several of its mining fields.

Why is the Gulen movement’s statement on press freedom significant?

BÜLENT KENEŞ As Turkey slows down its democratization and liberalization reforms, and occasionally backpedals on certain reforms, it runs into more serious problems. In particular, the slowdown in the democratization reforms Turkey is supposed to implement within the context of its European Union membership bid results in the deterioration of existing rights and freedoms. The […]

Latest News

Turkish inmate jailed over alleged Gülen links dies of heart attack in prison

Message of Condemnation and Condolences for Mass Shooting at Bondi Beach, Sydney

Media executive Hidayet Karaca marks 11th year in prison over alleged links to Gülen movement

ECtHR faults Turkey for convictions of 2,420 applicants over Gülen links in follow-up to 2023 judgment

New Book Exposes Erdoğan’s “Civil Death Project” Targeting the Hizmet Movement

European Human Rights Treaty Faces Legal And Political Tests

ECtHR rejects Turkey’s appeal, clearing path for retrials in Gülen-linked cases

Erdoğan’s Civil Death Project’ : The ‘politicide’ spanning more than a decade

Fethullah Gülen’s Vision and the Purpose of Hizmet

In Case You Missed It

Turkish medical group goes to Tanzania with largest medical personnel team

Pacifica Institute San Diego holds its Dialogue and Friendship Dinner

Refugee mother overjoyed after reuniting with daughters

Rising Value of Turkey: ‘The Gülen Movement’

Turkish newspaper ‘Zaman’ shuts down in Germany amid ‘threats’

Erdogan’s Purge Stretches All The Way To Pakistan

Former Fenerbahçe chairman Ali Şen’s grandson killed in car crash

Copyright 2026 Hizmet News