After the Istanbul Prosecutor's Office demanded the detention of Gülen Movement-affiliated police officers for their involvement in illegal wiretapping activities, an Istanbul court ruled on Monday for 29 suspects to be taken into custody.

The Istanbul-based operation, which began early Monday, saw detentions take place in nearly 20 Turkish provinces. The suspects, including the former vice-head of Istanbul Security Department and the chief of Istanbul Organized Crime Control Bureau, were charged with wiretapping espionage, violation of privacy, storing personal data in violation of the law and forgery of official documents.

The government alleges that the clandestine network is run by the U.S.-based controversial imam Fetullah Gülen and that his movement is responsible for masterminding a plot to overthrow the elected Turkish government.