Fethullah Gulen Terrorist Organisation (FETO), blamed by Turkey for the last month’s failed coup to topple President Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey, has “infiltrated” India, according to Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
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Technical delegation consisting of experts of U.S. Department of Justice will hold meetings with the Ministries of Justice and Internal Affairs of Turkey to study the evidence regarding the involvement of Gulen in the failed coup attempt.
Turkey continues to loudly protest the Obama Administration’s refusal to immediately and unquestioningly accept their extradition request for exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen, but indications from U.S. officials are that it’s not even a question right now, as the Turkish requests included literally zero evidence.
Turkey’s government said the July 15 defeated coup, which left 240 people martyred and almost 2,200 injured, was orchestrated by followers of Gulen and his FETO network.
Ankara has been calling on the U.S. to extradite Gulen, however, Washington has refused to do it until clear evidence of the cleric’s involvement has been provided.
An Obama administration official told reporters last week that Turkey hasn’t yet provided formal evidence to the Justice Department that Gulen personally was involved in the coup attempt.
Some Turkish officials have even asserted that the US conspired in the revolt. He comes bearing no assurances that the United States will agree to Turkey’s demand that it extradite Fethullah Gulen, who lives in Pennsylvania. “Turkey’s never asked from America to provide documents or proof on criminals that they’ve wanted us to extradite – we’ve given them the terrorists they wanted”, he said.
Previously, Turkish authorities sent two requests to the U.S. for extradition of Fethullah Gulen.
Putin was the first foreign leader to express his support for Erdogan after the coup happened. They added that Biden planned to tell Turkey’s leaders that their public allegations of USA complicity won’t help their cause. “If the extradition request is refused or delayed I’m afraid that’s going to have serious repercussions”. Turkey and the USA have both called for Assad’s ouster for years, insisting he can’t be part of Syria’s future government.
Washington’s concerns about human rights and democracy in Turkey have intensified since the Turkish government detained or fired tens of thousands of police, soldiers, teachers and journalists following the abortive coup.
Cavusoglu’s remarks have come just a day after at least 50 people were killed and more than 90 others were injured in a suicide bomb attack in the southern Turkish city of Gaziantep on Saturday.
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However, they added, Gulen’s extradition case will be determined in court – not by the US President or vice president.
