Ankara court approves joint indictment on coup suspects

By Durmus Kocak, Serdar Acil

ANKARA (AA) – An Ankara court approved Friday a joint indictment of 73 suspects for their alleged links to Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), a Turkish judicial source said.

The indictment includes U.S.-based preacher Fetullah Gulen himself.

Speaking on condition of anonymity due to fears for their safety, the source told Anadolu Agency that the Ankara 4th High Criminal Court approved the joint indictment, which was prepared by Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

The first hearing is expected to be held between Nov. 22 and 25.

According to the joint indictment, those who are de facto leading the organization, who know the crimes of the organization and continue to commit crimes intentionally after having learnt the truths about the organization, are the subjects of the investigation.

Turkey's government has repeatedly said the deadly coup attempt on July 15, which martyred at least 246 people and injured more than 2,100 others, was organized by followers of Gulen.

Gulen is also accused of a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through infiltrating Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary, forming a ‘parallel state’.

* Diyar Guldogan contributed to this report from Ankara.