Turkey has arrested its four citizens on suspicions of spying on political and religious organizations for France, according to a pro-government newspaper.
The report that came on Monday as tensions between the two NATO nations escalated over their opposing roles on Libya. More so, the latest conflict between their naval warships in the Mediterranean further strains their relationship.
According to the Sabah newspaper, Metin Ozdemir, an ex-employee of the French consulate’s security service, informed the police that he had received information from the French intelligence service, DGSE.
Furthermore, Ozdemir told the police that he had given intelligence on 120 individuals. Besides, this included Imams, in exchange for monthly payments and the guarantee of a position in France.
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Passing off as a leader of the so-called Islamic State party, he claims he recruited three men; an Istanbul water service contractor, a telephone worker, and an Istanbul hotel manager.
The spy cell worked to collect information regarding conservative organizations, religious groups, and Diyanet. Besides, the public agency regulating religious affairs, Sabah said.
Ozdemir also contacted the Turkish government after falling out with his French agents, it said. The four men have been detained and will face trial on an unknown date.
Sabah ‘s claim has not been officially verified, but it has come at a period when ties between France and Turkey are particularly strained.
France accuses Turkey
Turkey, which supports the UN-recognized Government of the National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli in the continuing Libyan crisis, has consistently accused France of supporting GNA opponent Khalifa Haftar, while Paris has refuted it.
Last week, following a Mediterranean maritime dispute in which France accused Turkish frigates of “highly hostile” conduct against a French container. The two nations had a heated exchange.
Turkey dismissed the allegation, arguing that the French vessel was at fault, and NATO launched an inquiry into the accident.
