Authorities detain 216 suspects over posts praising criminal groups

The Interior Ministry announced that 216 suspects who recruited hitmen and promoted criminal organizations on social media were detained in operations conducted across 52 provinces.

Scraper SystemJuly 31, 2026, 11:58 AM

Authorities detain 216 suspects over posts praising criminal groups

The Interior Ministry said 216 suspects who shared posts praising criminal organizations on social media platforms had been detained.

According to a statement from the ministry, simultaneous operations were conducted in 52 provinces under the direction of Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi, coordinated by the General Directorate of Security’s Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime Department and the chief public prosecutors’ offices.

The operations were carried out through joint efforts by the National Intelligence Organization, the General Directorate of Security’s Intelligence Department and the Department of Combating Cybercrime. The suspects taken into custody were found to have shared posts through groups they created on communication platforms to recruit “hitmen” or carry out hitman activities.

The suspects were found to have shared content on their social media accounts praising crimes and criminals, as well as content involving threats, insults and propaganda for criminal organizations. The ministry said they aimed to publicize their organizational activities, bring hostility and competition between criminal organizations to social media, normalize criminal activities and recruit new members through these posts.

The ministry’s statement said: “We are resolutely continuing our fight against those who encourage crime through social media, those who spread propaganda for criminal organizations and criminal structures targeting our young people. We congratulate our heroic police officers, our departments, the National Intelligence Organization, our chief public prosecutors’ offices and everyone who contributed.”