FETO terror group denial strategy won't work: Turkey

By Kemal Karadag

ANKARA (AA) - FETO, the group behind the 2016 defeated coup in Turkey, is pursuing a strategy of simply denying their many crimes in the hopes of escaping justice, said the Turkish justice minister on Wednesday.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Abduhamit Gul said that the members of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) deny their crimes "in line with orders" despite the evidence against them.

But the Turkish state’s efforts against FETO have not flagged, he said.

"Major operations, investigations, and prosecutions of the administrative, covert, infiltration elements of FETO are continuing," he added.

It would be wrong to assert that all FETO members have already been found, he explained.

"In the judiciary, civil administration, military, wherever [FETO has infiltrated], no matter the organization, the fight against all the sleeper, ‘covert’ elements will continue within the framework of the law," he added.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Ankara also 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.