Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has given multiple speeches in the past week, admitting to having been an ally of Fethullah Gulen, an Islamic cleric Erdogan claims staged the failed coup attempt against him last month, because of Islam.
Advertisement
The president said the purge of the military would continue as the arrests made so far were “just the tip of the iceberg”.
More than 60,000 people in the military, judiciary, civil service and education have been detained, suspended or investigated for alleged links to his Hizmet (Service) movement since the July 15 coup, prompting fears among western allies and rights groups of an indiscriminate witch-hunt.
Ankara has come under harsh criticism from the West for the ongoing purge in which over 60,000 people within military, judiciary, civil service and education have been dismissed, detained or are now under investigation for suspected links to the Gulen movement.
The Turkish government has expressed growing annoyance with what it regards as a lack of solidarity from worldwide allies in the aftermath of the failed coup, as well as increased frustration over perceived foot-dragging by the United States over a Turkish demand that US -based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen be returned to Turkey to face trial.
This is the ninth arrest warrant issued for Gulen by the government but the first alleging his involvement in the failed coup – the others accused him of involvement in a terrorist organization.
Turkey and the United States are bound by an extradition treaty, and the two countries must satisfy a series of legal procedures and meet evidential standards before any official extradition request is granted.
Erdogan, meanwhile, announced in a live television interview that the US’s top envoy John Kerry intends to visit Turkey later this month.
Ankara has sent two sets of documents to Washington since the coup as evidence of his involvement in the putsch attempt.
Earlier on Thursday, Erdogan vowed to go after businesses linked to Gulen’s movement. Turkey has responded with appreciation to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s support expressed after the government coup attempt, Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin told TASS, APA reports. More than 230 people were killed, excluding soldiers who were involved in the coup attempt.
Arrest warrant was also issued in December 2014 for the cleric accusing of running an armed group.
“We are determined to totally cut off all business links of this organisation, which has blood on its hands”.
The head of the European Union’s executive Commission has spoken out against ending membership talks with Turkey – a possibility raised by Austria’s chancellor.
Advertisement
“It is our responsibility to warn countries that have (Gulen-linked) schools”, Mr Eker said.
