Turkish intelligence agents in Germany are targeting followers of the Gülen religious movement and supporters of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), according to a report by the German Ministry of the Interior. The report was published by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), which monitors extremist activities in Germany. Turkish intelligence services, particularly the National Intelligence Organization (MİT), are focused on organizations classified as extremist or terrorist, such as the Gülen movement and the PKK.
The Turkish government accuses the Gülen movement of being behind a failed coup attempt in 2016 and considers it a terrorist organization, although the movement denies any involvement in the coup attempt. Since 2016, Turkey has arrested thousands of people suspected of ties to the Gülen movement, leading many followers to seek refuge in Europe. Turkey has urged German authorities to take action against Gülen supporters in the country, but the West does not recognize the Gülen movement as a terrorist organization.
Turkish intelligence services are able to gather information on their targets through the large Turkish community in Germany, as well as diplomatic missions and Turkish organizations. The Turkish population in Germany, estimated at over 3 million, is one of the largest immigrant groups in the country. The report also highlights arrests, detentions, and travel bans imposed by Turkish authorities on individuals in Germany with ties to organizations classified as terrorist in Turkey.
The report warns that Germany remains a target for Turkish intelligence services, which continue their activities at a high level. Since the coup attempt, the MİT has been involved in the kidnapping of individuals from various countries based on alleged links to the Gülen movement, sparking criticism from international rights groups.
Overall, the report underscores the ongoing surveillance and targeting of Gülen followers and PKK supporters by Turkish intelligence agents in Germany, raising concerns about the impact of Turkey’s security measures on individuals living abroad.
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https://stockholmcf.org/turkeys-intel-service-spies-on-gulen-followers-pkk-supporters-in-germany-report/