Ankara prosecutor urges asset freeze of pro-coup judges

By Zafer Fatih Beyaz and Aylin Sirikli

ANKARA (AA) – The chief prosecutor of Ankara has demanded the freezing of assets of 3,049 judges and prosecutors in Turkey as part of a probe into their alleged links with the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), according to the prosecutor’s office.

The asset freeze includes vehicles, bank accounts, all types of claims, valuable papers, partnership interest in any firm and safe deposit boxes.

The judges and prosecutors had already been remanded in custody in connection with FETO's failed coup.

The U.S.-based preacher Fetullah Gulen, who heads FETO according to the Turkish government, has been residing in Pennsylvania since 1999.

Turkey's government has said the deadly July 15 coup attempt was organized by followers of Gulen and FETO.

Gulen is also accused of a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary, forming what is commonly known as the parallel state.

A total number of 246 people, including 62 police officers, five soldiers and 179 civilians were martyred and more than 2,100 others were injured in the coup attempt.