At least 21 members of the movement of Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, which Ankara refers to as the Fethullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), were arrested during a Turkey-wide operation, local media reported on Wednesday.
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 26th December, 2018) At least 21 members of the movement of Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, which Ankara refers to as the Fethullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), were arrested during a Turkey-wide operation, local media reported on Wednesday.
According to the security source, as quoted by the Anadolu news agency, anti-terror raids were simultaneously undertaken in nine provinces of Turkey, including Mersin, Mugla, Manisa, Siirt, Konya and Sivas provinces, as well as the Aegean province of Izmir and capital Ankara.
On July 15, 2016, a military coup attempt, aimed at overthrowing the country's government and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, took place in Turkey. It was promptly suppressed by government forces, but left over 2,000 people injured and over 250 killed. Ankara has accused Gulen and his followers of playing a key role in the military takeover attempt, which the cleric, who has been residing in the United States since 1999, has refuted. Ankara demands Gulen's extradition.
Since the incident, scores of military personnel, teachers, reporters and activists have been arrested over their suspected links to FETO.
