Abdulhamit Gül
Turkey has asked for the extradition of 419 fugitive members of Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), the group behind the 2016 defeated coup in Turkey, according to the justice minister on Friday.
“To date, extradition of 419 FETÖ leaders and members have been requested from foreign countries,” Abdulhamit Gül told reporters.
“Red notice requests are also issued for those whose whereabouts are not clear,” Gul added.
He said the extradition requests for the fugitives were prepared by the courts as part of the investigations into the terror group.
The requests were sent to the relevant countries via the Justice Ministry, he added.
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.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday said that Turkey expects unhesitant support from Moldova in the fight against the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ)."In the joint fight against FETO, the Turkish people expect from their Moldovan friends to show the support needed without hesitation," Erdoğan said.He also warned the Moldovans against FETÖ, saying that the terror group infiltrated state institutions and may do same in their country, in a press conference with his Moldovan counterpart Igor Dodon.A total of 249 people were martyred and more than 2,100 injured in the coup attempt perpetrated by FETÖ. The failed coup was organized by followers of U.S.-based Fetullah Gülen, who has pursued a long-running campaign to overthrow the government through supporters within the Turkish state, particularly the military, police and judiciary.Fifty FETÖ suspects arrested across TurkeyFormer teacher recalls experience at FETÖ schoolErdoğan also said that one or both of the Turkish public lenders Halk Bank and Ziraat Bank will open a branch in Moldova soon followed by inspections of the lenders in the country.Dodon, for his part, said that Turkey contributed to a "strong and stable" Moldova."Turkey is an important example for the protection of our national interest and to create good relations," he added.Dodon also said he made a pledge to Erdogan to secure the autonomy of Gagauzia Region in the Moldovan Constitution.The autonomous territory is home to a mostly Gagauz population -- an Orthodox Christian, Turkic community.During his two-day official visit, Erdoğan is also expected to meet Prime Minister Pavel Filip and Irina Vlah, president of Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia (Gagauz-Gokoguz Yeri).Erdoğan is accompanied by Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, Education Minister Ziya Selcuk, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Cahit Turhan and Youth and Sports Minister Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoğlu.
Erdoğan says Turkey expects full support from Moldova against FETÖ terror group
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.
He said Turkey has so far sent seven requests to the U.S. for extradition of FETÖ’s ringleader Gülen.
Gul stated that the requests for extradition and the evidence were in compliance with the agreements between the two countries and the law of extradition.
He added that fresh evidence against the terror group were also shared with the U.S.
“Our extradition requests are still held in the U.S. Department of Justice. At this point, our expectation is the initiation of a judicial process for extradition as soon as possible […]” he said.
Gulen has been living in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999.
Fifty suspected members of the group behind the 2016 defeated coup in Turkey were arrested on Tuesday, according to official sources.One group of 20 soldiers, arrested in operations across 23 provinces, includes both active duty soldiers and inactive ones, said the a judicial source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.They are part of a group of 34 Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ)-linked soldiers that Istanbul prosecutors issued arrest warrants for, including 19 active-duty soldiers, four former military school students, and 11 dismissed soldiers.Video: Fifty FETÖ suspects arrested across TurkeyThe 19 active-duty soldiers include two colonels, three majors, five lieutenants, five first lieutenants, and four sergeants.A search is underway to apprehend the remaining suspects, the source added.Later, 30 gendarmerie forces personnel were arrested after Ankara prosecutors issued an arrest warrant for 50 gendarmerie personnel over suspected links to FETÖ.According to a prosecutor's statement, the arrest warrants came after one gendarmerie lieutenant and 49 first lieutenants' links to FETÖ were found through their telephone conversations with the terrorist group's so-called "covert imams."Former teacher recalls experience at FETÖ schoolThirty-five of the suspects are active gendarmerie forces personnel, it added.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.
Fifty FETÖ suspects arrested across Turkey