Turkey: Board backs charges against 54 prosecutors

Turkey’s supreme judicial authority has paved the way for the prosecution of 54 judges and prosecutors as part of an investigation into the alleged “Selam-Tevhid” organization.

The Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) said in its ruling on Thursday that the judges and prosecutors should face charges for allegedly allowing illegal wiretappings of thousands of people, including senior government officials and top state institutions.

“Selam-Tevhid” allegedly was linked to the "parallel state" organization led by the U.S.-based preacher, Fethullah Gulen. The organization is accused of wiretapping senior government figures, including the prime minister, National Intelligence Organization (MIT) chief, cabinet ministers as well as journalists through serving state officials.

According to the Turkish government, the “parallel state” or “parallel structure” refers to a purported group of Turkish bureaucrats and senior officials embedded in the country's institutions, including the judiciary and police, who are allegedly trying to undermine the elected Turkish government.

The ongoing operation against the “parallel state” has resulted in the detention of dozens of police officers and the reassignment of hundreds of other officers across Turkey.