4 FETO convicts get aggravated life sentences in Turkey

By Baris Kilic and Serdar Acil

ANKARA (AA) - Four convicts, including a former MP and the ex-chairman of broadcaster STV were given aggravated life sentences in a case linked to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO)/Parallel State Structure (PDY), judicial sources said on Friday.

According to the government, FETO 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.

The Ankara 4th Heavy Criminal Court handed down aggravated life sentences to Hidayet Karaca, former chairman of Samanyolu TV (STV), former lawmaker Ilhan Isbilen, Alaeddin Kaya, former grant holder of daily Zaman that was shut down by the government and Kazim Avci, a relative of Fetullah Gulen in one of the major cases involving 75 defendants.

They were given jail terms on the charge of attempting to violate the country's constitution.

Abdulkadir Aksoy, one of the attorneys of Fetullah Gulen, another attorney Ali Celik and businessman Dilaver Azim were sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison for being a member of an armed terror organization.

Ankara 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.