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At least 16 suspects including active-duty soldiers have been arrested across Turkey for their suspected links to FETÖ, the terrorist group behind a defeated coup, an official statement said on Thursday.
According to a statement by the governor's office in the eastern Bitlis province, simultaneous operations were launched in 11 provinces on Wednesday, including Bitlis.
Among the 16 suspects arrested were lieutenant colonels and commanders, the statement noted.
Cameroon has transferred six schools affiliated withFETÖ-- the terrorist group behind the 2016 defeated coup in Turkey -- to a special Turkish foundation."Cameroon authorities told us that those who dared to commit such a betrayal are a threat to Cameroon too," Husnu Murat Ulku, Turkey’s ambassador to Cameroon, told Anadolu Agency on Wednesday, referring to the defeated coup, which took 251 lives and injured 2,200.Cameroon showed great solidarity with Turkey by transferring the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) schools to the Turkish Maarif Foundation, he added.Turkey established the Maarif Foundation in 2016 to take over the administration of overseas schools linked to FETÖ. It also establishes schools and education centers abroad. Dozens of African countries have handed over FETÖ schools to Maarif or closed them down at Ankara's request.Ulku explained that Cameroonian authorities waited until the end of the school year so as to minimize the disruption for students.Relations between Turkey and Cameroon are excellent, he said, adding: "The transfer of the schools is a development which confirms the strong bonds and solid friendship."Birol Akgun, Maarif's head, thanked the Cameroonian government and stressed Maarif will do a better job educating its young students. "We will continue to take over FETÖ-affiliated schools in Africa and in various parts of the world," he explained.Ankara also accuses FETÖ of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, including the military, police, judiciary, and schools.FETÖ also has a considerable presence outside Turkey, including private educational institutions that serve as a revenue stream for the terrorist group.
FETÖ-linked schools in Cameroon put in Turkish hands
A hunt for another suspect is underway.
The Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.
Ankara also accuses FETÖ of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.
Pennsylvania natives living near the U.S.-based leader of FETÖ, the group behind the 2016 defeated coup in Turkey, complain that the terror group head dominates local politics, making things easy for himself, while ordinary people suffer.“If you have a close relationship with Fetullah Gulen, you can easily get a [building] permit. If you aren’t, you’ll have a hard time getting it because Fetullah Gulen is controlling the town’s administration,” says John Favere, a resident of nearby Wind Gap.Fetullah Gulen, leader of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) and a fugitive from Turkish justice, has lived in the U.S. for decades."This is unjust to people just trying to survive in hard conditions every day," added Favere.Favere said Howard A. Beers, a local contractor and supervisor of Ross Township -- including Saylorsburg, where Gulen lives -- who he met at Golden Generation, FETO’s mansion complex in Pennsylvania, “has a huge impact on Gulen. He built many buildings at Golden Generation."Beers, the owner of Howard A. Beers Inc., built and renovated many buildings at FETO’s mansion in Pennsylvania over the last decade."Now he has a million-dollar fortune," said Favere.“FETÖ is taking control of town by buying land. And here’s the main point: What is FETO doing to America and its politicians, what do they pay them? Where is this money coming from to control our leaders?” he asked.Coup attempt and fugitiveIn July 2016, FETO and Gulen orchestrated a defeated coup in Turkey which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.Since the coup attempt, Turkey has sought Gulen's extradition from the U.S., and complained that the U.S. is not moving fast enough.Turkey issues arrest warrants for 56 FETÖ suspectsAnkara issues arrest warrants for 68 FETÖ suspectsAnkara also accuses FETÖ of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.FETÖ also has a considerable presence outside Turkey, including private educational institutions that serve as a revenue stream for the terrorist group, including in the U.S.'They do whatever they want'Speaking to Anadolu Agency, David Bonser, 72, the owner of the local Kostonbador farm, said: “If I want to do something in this town, I need a permit and engineers from the local government. The local Planning Department also has to be involved in the process."But, Bonser said, things are different for FETÖ: “Without a permit, they do whatever they want."“If I did what they did, I'm sure the government would punish me,” he added.About Beers, who is known as a close friend and defender of FETÖ in Pennsylvania, Bonser said: "He built many buildings at FETÖ's Golden Generation mansion."He added: "He [Howard Beers] says he’s a Christian and he goes to the church, but he hangs out with the Muslims [at the FETO camp] because he makes a lot of money."Anadolu Agency approached Beers near FETO's mansion complex where he declined to respond to any questions regarding the claims.FETO ringleader Gulen has been living in Pennsylvania since 1999.Ross Township, one of 16 municipalities in Pennsylvania's Monroe county, has a population of about 5,500.These townships are governed by supervisors who are elected to six-year terms, and their responsibilities include zoning, sanitation, building permits, and land ownership records.
FETÖ leader said to get breaks from local US government