Turkish intelligence has confirmed the death of Turkish Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara has accused of plotting a coup in Turkey in 2016, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced today, quoted by the Anatolian Agency, writes BTA.
Gülen was initially an ally of the current president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but their relationship subsequently fell apart.
After the coup attempt in Turkey in July 2016, the government accused Gulen and his supporters of organizing the coup, and the preacher's movement was designated by Turkish authorities as the “Fethullahist terrorist organization” (FETO). Tens of thousands of Turks were arrested on charges of links to the Gulenist movement.
Our intelligence sources have confirmed the death of the FETO leader, Fidan said in response to a question from Anadolu Agency at a joint press conference with Ukraine's Foreign Minister Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sibyga in Ankara.
Gülen lived in the US state of Pennsylvania. Ankara demanded that he be extradited, but the American authorities did not give permission.
Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to destroy the state by infiltrating Turkish institutions, especially the army, police and judiciary, Anadolu Agency noted.
„The leader of this dark organization is dead,” Fidan said, adding that Turkey's determination to fight terrorism will not weaken.