Film explores dark world of FETO terrorist group

By Muhammad Mussa

LONDON (AA) - A documentary film exploring the dark underworld of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) and its role in the July 15, 2016 failed coup attempt in Turkey premiered Monday in London.

The documentary was created by the Turkish American National Steering Committee (TASC) in conjunction with Turkish international news channel TRT World and the July 15 Foundation and analyzed the secret structures of the terrorist organization, its leader Fetullah Gulen and why Turkey is demanding that he be extradited to be held accountable for his role in the coup attempt.

Watching the movie was special guest Umit Yalcin, the Turkish ambassador to the U.K., who gave a short speech prior to its screening explaining why people should know who FETO is and why they are a threat to Turkish democracy and democracy as a whole.

“Fetullah Gulen’s terrorist organization carried out the coup attempt against Turkish democracy. They tried to abolish our democracy, our parliament. Fortunately, the Turkish leadership and Turkish people bravely and courageously stood against this terrorist attack and averted it,” Yalcin said.

“The terrorist attack and coup attempt revealed the great threat of that terrorist organization against the Turkish state and Turkish democracy, and although the struggle against this terrorist group at home is continuing, they are still active abroad and in different countries and unfortunately, many of them are our partners and allies who show them tolerance and protection,” he added.

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

“The majority of religious communities in the U.S. have an open door policy to anyone who would like to know about them, but this man (Gulen) kept us out, and we would never be allowed on his premises. There are armed men guarding his gate, and it makes us wonder, what is he hiding? What is he keeping a secret?” said one resident.

According to witness accounts, a few years back, automatic gunfire was often heard in and around the complex, and many neighbors became frightened due to the close proximity of the gunfire and so the police were called, which promptly put an end to the disturbance. However, it was later revealed, after locals spoke with a construction company, that the terrorist organization had built an underground shooting range in which they would practice firing automatic weapons.

The documentary also analyzed FETO’s influence in the education sector in the U.S. and how they would build schools that would enroll students from all levels of society. According to the documentary, education is key in the spread of FETO’s ideology and propaganda, and by making the schools easily accessible to all students regardless of status or wealth, FETO would be able to propagate its ideas to a young generation.

It was, however, revealed that FETO would use its schools as a front to extort money from its students and employees.

In one segment of the film, the wife of a FETO school teacher explains how her husband could not afford to pay the house bills and when questioned about his income, he explained how he and other FETO school staff had to abide by a contract called the ’Tuzuk’ in which they would give 40% of their income to Gulen and it had to be paid in cash.

According to the documentary, these revelations have unmasked the true face of FETO, one that is steeped in corruption, dishonesty, deception and ultimately terrorism. Furthermore, FETO has been exposed in using religion as a means to further its interests and global aspirations -- not just in Turkey, but across the world -- and this is evident in the development of schools and charities.

Most importantly, the film looked at the major role FETO played in organizing and carrying out the failed coup attempt in 2016. FETO had gained the support of some Turkish military officers, most notably Adil Oksuz, a civilian who was working in 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 film 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 the Turkish military chief of 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 film’s premiere comes a week before the third anniversary of the July 15th failed coup attempt, which the Turkish people celebrate as Democracy and National Unity Day.