FETÖ's U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gülen
American experts on Wednesday warned of the threat posed by the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) in the country.
"I believe that the Gülen movement in the U.S. presents a unique and unusual security threat," said Mark Hall, producer, screenwriter and director of the documentary "Killing Ed", which probed the financial practices of FETO-linked charter schools in the U.S.
Intense security measures stand out at the entrance of the camp where Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) leader Fetullah Gülen lives in Pennslyvania’s Saylorsburg village in the U.S.An American security guard with gun and vest stopped journalists from Anadolu Agency when they showed up with their press cards around the camp.Cars and people go through a thorough search at the security post. People entering the camp leave their cell phones and electronic devices at the post.Video: Security measures stand out at FETÖ’s Pennsylvania campAmerican security staff with heavy weapons and vests guard the entrance.Some FETÖ members realized Anadolu Agency taking footage and tried to hide their faces while entering the complex.Cevdet Turkyolu, who manages the camp, also known as Gülen’s dark horse, has seven houses around the camp area worth between over $100,000 to $500,000. He also has real estate worth millions of dollars in Florida and Turkey as well. He and his relatives’ names are mentioned in the Turkish government's list of people behind the defeated coup of July 15, 2016.Pennsylvania residents irked by FETÖ presenceAnadolu Agency has footage of one of the houses with an American flag inside it, near the window.Fetullah Gülen, leader of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization and a fugitive from Turkish justice, has lived in the U.S. for decades.Since 1999, Gülen resides in a secluded mansion complex named the “Golden Generation camp” at Pennslyvania’s Saylorsburg village.Four FETÖ members jailed in defunct daily caseLocals in Saylorsburg village have voiced concern over Gülen's hideout in their country and expressed unease at terror group’s obscure activities and secluded living in the U.S.In July 2016, FETÖ and Gülen orchestrated a defeated coup in Turkey which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.Since the coup bid, Turkey has sought Gülen's extradition from the U.S., and complained that the U.S. is not moving fast enough on its request.Turkey issues arrest warrants for 346 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.FETÖ terror ringleader sends instructions to group members
Security measures stand out at FETÖ’s Pennsylvania camp
Speaking at the panel "July 15 Coup attempt: Two Years Later" organized by the Global Policy Institute in Washington, D.C., Hall said FETÖ threatens the U.S. mainly by bringing in unqualified employees from other countries, especially from Turkey, as well as through money laundering and forgery of documents, deceiving local and federal authorities.
He noted that the terror group has also been financing major public relations firms for ages to convince American society that they are compatible with democratic, moderate American values. But a closer investigation reveals exactly the opposite.
"The Gülen movement has financed over a 19-year period a huge PR movement to provide a story about who they are. But when you look more closely, it is not a group that is democratic or that has the U.S.’ best interests in mind," Hall said.
This June top members of FETÖ, the terrorist group behind the 2016 defeated coup in Turkey, held meetings in 18 different countries to share instructions from the terror group’s leader, according to security sources.Members of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) gathered in clandestine meetings to convey instructions from Fetullah Gulen, the terror group’s U.S.-based leader, in the last week of June, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.The sources also said 33 members attended a meeting in Pennsylvania, the U.S. state where Gulen has lived since 1999.At least 16 FETÖ suspects arrested across TurkeyDuring the meetings, instructions from Gulen were read out to the attendees, they said.- Terror leader instructionsBelow are some of the instructions uncovered by intelligence sources:- "Get married to someone from the country you’re living in to gain acceptance.- “Deter investors in the country you’re living in from investing in Turkey and stop any investments in Turkey by our members.- “Try to find new people to join us and relieve our students according to the position of the country they are living in.- “Brothers and sisters should pay maximum attention. They should steer clear of state institutions.- “Provide those brothers making international journeys with all kind of support.”The list of instructions also called on FETO members to take more care and take organized action as they feared pressure on FETO would intensify following Turkey’s June 24 presidential and parliamentary elections.FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 2016 in Turkey which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.
FETÖ terror ringleader sends instructions to group members
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. FETÖ-linked schools in Cameroon put in Turkish handsA 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.FETÖ leader said to get breaks from local US government
At least 16 FETÖ suspects arrested across Turkey
Emphasizing that FETÖ's U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gülen needs to be extradited to Turkey, he added that the U.S. government should also pay attention to the immigration issues related to FETÖ-linked charter schools.
"The schools should be removed from receiving tax dollars," he said.
FETÖ and Gülen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016 which left 250 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.
Hall, in a previous panel, said he heard about the July 15 defeated coup from TV news while he was in the process of filming a documentary, and "it was no surprise" to him to learn that FETÖ was behind the coup attempt.
Another speaker at the panel, Abraham Wagner, who is a lecturer in national security law at Columbia Law School, said the corruption in taxes and immigration that FETÖ commits in the U.S. needs to be examined thoroughly.
He also said that FETÖ is not known in America in detail.
"There is not a great deal of awareness in America among the public or the media about what the Gülen movement is," Wagner said. "It is unfortunate that it hasn’t gotten the media coverage or official law enforcement coverage that it needs."
Mary Addi, who formerly taught at a Gülen movement school in the U.S., also spoke at the panel.
Addi said she first learned that her Turkish husband, who also taught at the school, was part of the movement when she realized he was giving 40 percent of his salary back to the movement.
"I said to my husband, 'Do you get that this is not legal? They are extorting money from you,'” she said, describing it as "illegal and money laundering".
Stating that FETÖ attempted to force her husband to divorce her because she was investigating its corruption, Addi said she worked with her husband to gather evidence of wrongdoing at the schools and submitted it to the relevant authorities.
However, she said she has been told that the biggest problem the agencies investigating the movement are facing is tracking the money.
Addi also said she has been giving interviews to foreign media outlets while American media outlets turn a blind eye to the issue.
“Where are our government officials? Why is our own country not doing anything about these schools?
"There is not a doubt in my mind as to whether they are insidious, dangerous and terrorists."