FETO defaming Turkey among Hajj pilgrims: Diplomat

By Ahmed Yusuf

RIYADH (AA) - The FETO terrorist organization is exploiting the Islamic Hajj pilgrimage to distort Turkey’s image and promote "baseless lies", a Turkish diplomat has said.

At a Tuesday press conference, Fikret Ozer, Turkey’s consul-general in Jeddah, accused the FETO group -- led by U.S.-based Fetullah Gulen -- of "promoting lies" about Turkey among Hajj pilgrims.

"The coup plotters are shamelessly spreading lies and falsehoods" among pilgrims performing this year’s Hajj ritual, Ozer said at the press conference, which was organized by the consulate’s press attaché and attended by Turkish Deputy Environment Minister Mehmet Ceylan.

On July 15, a renegade faction within Turkey’s military attempted to overthrow the country’s democratically-elected government. Widely believed to have been orchestrated by Gulen and his followers, the failed putsch left at least 240 martyrs in its wake.

Gulen is also accused of pursuing a long-running campaign to infiltrate Turkey’s state institutions -- especially the military, police and judiciary -- with the ultimate aim of creating a "parallel state".

Speaking at Tuesday’s press conference, Ceylan asserted that July’s failed coup bid had shown "the unity of the Turkish people" in the face of threats to the country’s democratic values.

He went on to voice his appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s staunch condemnation of the putsch attempt.

Celalettin Guvenc, an MP for Turkey’s ruling AK Party, for his part, declared at the press conference: "We have passed through a very difficult phase and thank God for defeating them [the coup plotters]".

He added: "We must draw the appropriate lessons from this experience."