119 people in Turkey died due to crackdown on Gülen movement in 2019 (430 people died since 2016)


Date posted: January 4, 2020

At least 119 people lost their lives in Turkey due to an ongoing government-led crackdown on the Gülen movement according to an online platform. Many people including children have drowned in the waters of the Aegean Sea or the Maritsa River while trying to flee the crackdown.

The “zulümlebitenhayatlar” (lives that end due to tyranny) is an online platform that keeps track of the individuals who die due to the direct or indirect consequences of the crackdown.

The Turkish government accuses the Gülen movement of masterminding the failed coup on July 15, 2016 and labels it a “terrorist organization,” although the movement strongly denies involvement in the coup attempt or any terrorist activity.

According to the platform, 119 people lost their lives due to the crackdown in 2019. The platform also posted a short video that had a list of these individuals and the date on which they died.

Many people including children have drowned in the waters of the Aegean Sea or the Maritsa River while trying to flee the crackdown, while others died in prison or under detention either due to maltreatment or because they were ailing and were denied medical treatment.

Following the coup attempt, the Turkish government launched a massive crackdown on followers of the movement under the pretext of an anti-coup fight, as a result of which more than 130,000 people were removed from state jobs while in excess of 30,000 others are still in jail and some 600,000 people have been investigated on allegations of terrorism.

The platform said 430 people have died due to the crackdown on Gülen movement followers since the coup attempt in 2016.

Source: Turkish Minute , January 2, 2020


Related News

Mysteries, and a Crackdown, Persist a Year After a Failed Coup in Turkey

Mr. Erdogan’s own statements have also raised questions about the sequence of events. In an account posted on the president’s website, Mr. Erdogan said he was first warned of unusual military activity at 4:30 p.m. by his brother-in-law. He tried to contact Mr. Fidan and Mr. Akar around 5 p.m., he said but was unable to reach either of them.

Arrest of Kanter’s father underscores deepening tensions between U.S., Turkey

Turkey’s ability to stop Kanter from living in the U.S. or playing in the NBA is basically non-existent. The U.S. won’t allow Turkey to extradite him. But Erdoğan’s government has an ulterior motive in attempting to intimidate Kanter. “The point of this exercise is to let Turks around the world know that none of them are safe, that they should not speak out against the government,” Joshua Landis said.

Parents slam Pak-Turk Schools possible handover to Maarif Foundation

Parents of students of Pak-Turk schools and colleges blasted the Pakistan government for handing over the education system to a Turkish nonprofit organization called Maarif Foundation. They said that the schools and colleges would suffer if handed-over to the “poorly-equipped and infamous” Maarif Foundation.

Erdogan plotted purge before coup, say Brussels spies

he European intelligence contradicts the Turkish government’s claim that Fethullah Gülen, an exiled cleric, was behind the plot to overthrow the Turkish government. Ankara is seeking Mr Gülen’s extradition from the US.

As Turks flee oppression, Ottawa urged to speak out on human rights issues

Asylum seekers are still fleeing Turkey for Canada and other western countries, Kaplan said. “There’s at least 14 families (in my neighbourhood in Ottawa). I mean ladies (with kids). All their husbands have been arrested (in Turkey,)” he said. The women are not comfortable speaking out publicly for fear it could imperil their husbands behind bars in Turkey, he added.

Greece Warned Turkey Hours before the 2016 Coup Attempt

Former military chief and defence minister Evangelos Apostolakis says Greece warned Turkey hours before the 2016 coup attempt after receiving information about plan.

Latest News

Fethullah Gulen – man of education, peace and dialogue – passes away

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

In Case You Missed It

Erdogan’s persecution: Mother with infant under arrest until husband surrenders self

Fethullah Gulen’s Maxim: Live So That Others May Live

Iftar Dinner at Manhattan’s Riverside Church

Malaysia deports 3 Turks despite warnings of torture risk

Pregnant with twins, Kocaeli woman detained during control at hospital

The Gülen Movement and human rights values in the Muslim world

The Gülen movement: advocators of interfaith activities in Turkey

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News