Turkish police detain opposition figure
Metin Gurcan, a founding member of Turkey's Democracy and Progress Party (DEVA), has been detained by the Turkish police, joining a number of political opponents and critics who have been accused of “political espionage” in recent years.
Metin Gurcan, a founding member of a Turkish opposition party, who is also an Al-Monitor contributor, was detained early in the morning on Nov. 26 on charges of "espionage," in a move many believe is politically motivated aimed at intimidating the opposition as part of the Turkish government's increasing campaigns targeting opposition members.
“I am being detained over political espionage charges,” Gurcan, a member of Democracy and Progress Party (DEVA), wrote on Twitter during a police raid at his house in Istanbul. “I’m shocked. I’m waiting for your support,” he added.
Gurcan, 45, a retired officer at the Turkish Armed Forces, joined DEVA in 2020. He is a prominent commentator on military and defense fields and has been an Al-Monitor contributor since 2014.
DEVA’s leader Ali Babacan, a former Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Economy, said the party’s lawyers will provide full legal support to Gurcan.
