Turkey detains Fethullah Gulen’s nephew

Turkey has detained a nephew of US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen after last week’s failed coup, state-run media reported Saturday, the first time one of the his relatives has been apprehended in the current crackdown.

Muhammet Sait Gulen will be taken to the capital Ankara after he was detained in Erzurum, the eastern region where his 75-year-old uncle is said to have developed his deep convictions, close to his birthplace of Korucuk.

Erzurum is thought to be home to many Gulen supporters and members of his Hizmet movement, which Turkish authorities say was behind the July 15 coup.

Gulen, the Pennsylvania-based arch-foe of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is accused of “masterminding” the putsch through his movement, a claim he strongly denies.

Turkey on Saturday pushed with a sweeping crackdown against suspects accused of taking part in the failed coup against Mr Erdogan, extending police powers to hold people in detention and shuttering over 1,000 private schools.

Mr Erdogan’s government has rounded up or sacked thousands of perceived state enemies.