Gendarmerie Intelligence Organization

Jandarma İstihbarat Teşkilatı (JİT)
Jandarma İstihbarat ve Terörle Mücadele (JİTEM)
ActiveLate 1980s – present (unofficially, as JİTEM)
2005 – present (officially, as JİT)
CountryTurkey
BranchTurkish Gendarmerie
TypeIntelligence agency
RoleAgent handling
Black operation
Clandestine operation
Close-quarters combat
Counterinsurgency
Countersurveillance
Counterterrorism
Covert operation
Criminal investigation
Direct action
Espionage
Force protection
HUMINT
ISTAR
Law enforcement
Manhunt
Military intelligence
Mountain warfare
Patrolling
Raiding
Reconnaissance
Special operations
Special reconnaissance
Surveillance
Tracking
Urban warfare

Jandarma İstihbarat ve Terörle Mücadele or Jandarma İstihbarat Teşkilatı (abbr. JİTEM or JİT; English: "Gendarmerie Intelligence and Counter-Terrorism" or "Gendarmerie Intelligence Organization") is the intelligence department of the Turkish Gendarmerie. JİTEM was active in the Kurdish–Turkish conflict.[1] After the Susurluk scandal, former prime ministers Bülent Ecevit[2] and Mesut Yılmaz[3] have confirmed the existence of JİTEM.

According to Murat Belge of Istanbul Bilgi University, who has reported that he was tortured in 1971 by its founder, Veli Küçük,[4] JİTEM is an embodiment of the deep state. In other words, it is used by "the Establishment" to enforce alleged national interests.[5] It is also said to be the military wing of Ergenekon, an underground Turkish nationalist organization.[6][7] In 2008, long-maintained official denials of JİTEM's existence started collapsing in the courts, as ex-members of Turkey's "deep state" security apparatus testify to their participation in covert and illegal activities over the last few decades as part of the ongoing Ergenekon investigation.[8]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Zeki was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference HRFT39 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference TIHV was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Safile was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Düzel, Neşe (2008-01-28). "2009'da kıyamet gibi kan akacaktı". Taraf (in Turkish). Archived from the original on 2013-01-13. Retrieved 2008-08-14. Derin devlet gene askerî bünye içinde oluşuyor ama artık derin devlet MİT değil. Bugün derin devlet JİTEM.
  6. ^ "Assassinations lead to JİTEM". Sabah. 2008-08-25. Archived from the original on August 28, 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-26. JİTEM, considered to be the ancestor of the Ergenekon organization....
  7. ^ Kuseyri, Murat (2008-10-04). "JİTEM Ergenekon'un askeri kanadıdır". Evrensel (in Turkish). Archived from the original on 2013-01-12. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  8. ^ Jamestown Foundation Turkey's Gendarmerie: Reforming a Frontline Unit in the War on Terrorism, Publication: Terrorism Monitor Volume: 6 Issue: 22, November 25, 2008 by Andrew McGregor