Bosnia: Documentary explores dark world of FETO

By Talha Ozturk

SARAJEVO, Bosnia Herzegovina (AA) - A documentary exploring the dark world of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) and its role in the July 15, 2016 defeated coup in Turkey was screened in Bosnia and Herzegovina's capital on Wednesday.

"The Network" which was produced by the Turkish American National Steering Committee (TASC) in association with Turkish international news channel TRT World and the July 15 Foundation analyzes the clandestine substructures of the terrorist organization, the role of head terrorist Fetullah Gulen in the defeated coup and why he must be extradited to Turkey.

The screening of the documentary at the Kovaci Memorial Center was organized by the Turkish Embassy in Sarajevo.

Turkish Ambassador Haldun Koc said before the screening of the documentary that he would never forget the treacherous coup attempt.

"The Turkish nation revealed their will against the coup attempt. We are now sharing the events of that night with Bosnians through the documentary movie produced by TRT World," Koc said.

Koc said that Bosnia and Herzegovina showed its solidarity with Turkey on July 15.

"Bosnia and Herzegovina was among the first countries that expressed support to Turkey," said Koc.

Koc said that FETO maintains its activities in Bosnia.

"We are in close cooperation with Bosnia and Herzegovina. We are saying that it is possible to wipe out this terrorist organization from Bosnia and Herzegovina with a joint work," said Koc.

"Both countries expressed common political will to fight this terror group. We will continue to fight because this is not just Turkey's matter but also Bosnia and Herzegovina's," he added.

The documentary was screened with Bosnian subtitles. Earlier the same day it was also screened at the Yunus Emre Institute in Sarajevo.

The documentary explains how in the beginning, Gulen settled in a small town of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and founded his terrorist organization by buying a large plot of land hidden away from the public. Through interviews with residents of Saylorsburg, the documentary explains how Gulen failed to integrate into society and remained an outsider to his neighbors.

The documentary also analyzes FETO’s influence over the education sector in the U.S. and how they would build schools that enroll students from all sections of society. According to the documentary, education is the key in the spreading of FETO’s ideology and propaganda, and by making those schools easily accessible to all students regardless of status or wealth, FETO would be able to inject its ideas into young generations.

Most importantly, ''The Network'' looks at the major role FETO played in organizing and carrying out the failed coup in 2016. FETO had gained the support of several Turkish military officers, most notably Adil Oksuz, a civilian who was dealing with the Air Force. Prior to the coup, Oksuz made repeated trips to the U.S., where he is said to have met with Gulen and organized the coup.

The Network also mentions the role of a Palestinian middleman by the name of Mohammed Dahlan as well as the United Arab Emirates in channeling money to FETO to fund the coup attempt and buy off sections of the military.

Moreover, during the coup attempt, FETO soldiers kidnapped then-Turkish Chief of General Staff Hulusi Akar. While he was in detention, he was made to speak with Gulen, who tried to force him to support the coup. Nonetheless, Akar rejected all attempts and was rescued by the Turkish government.

FETO’s failed coup attempt left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured. The Network’s premiere came a week before the third anniversary of the July 15 defeated coup, which the Turkish people celebrate as the Democracy and National Unity Day.