Turkey Detains Fethullah Gulen’s Nephew

Turkey has arrested the nephew of Fethullah Gulen, the Muslim cleric who lives in the US and is lately being accused by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to have masterminded the failed coup attempt of last week.

Muhammet Sait Gulen was arrested in the city of Erzurum and is said to be transferred to capital Ankara.

In the current crackdown more than 10,000 people have been arrested in the country in past few days following the attempt of abortive takeover by army on July 15 that left at least 265 people dead.

The younger Gulen is the first of close relatives of the Pennsylvania-based cleric to be detained in the fresh crackdown.

Most of the arrests are of army men and some are of judges and civil servants.

Erdogan vowed to be cleansing the state apparatus of apparent Gulen supporters.

Just yesterday the president ordered closure of over 1,000 private schools and around 1,200 foundations and associations apart from 15 universities, 19 unions and 35 medical institutions.

On Wednesday state of emergency was declared in Turkey giving power to Erdogan to issue edicts without the support of parliament.

Within few days Erdogan will also be submitting an extradition request for Fethullah Gulen to the US.

Meanwhile, Gulen has denied any connections with the coup and said his supporters are being framed claiming Erdogan may himself had staged coup attempt.