Turkey: MHP head urges Germany to see FETO as terrorist

By Muhammet Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey's Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader on Tuesday called on Germany to recognize what they call the "Gulen Movement" as a terrorist organization.

"As long as FETO [Fetullah Terrorist Organization] is called the Gulen Movement [in Germany], how could these traitors and assassins in Europe be fought against," said Devlet Bahceli during his party's parliamentary group session.

Bahceli said Germany has been misjudging the defeated coup of July 15, 2016.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Sunday that Germany needed more information and evidence about the group to categorize it as a terrorist organization, just as it did for the PKK terrorist group.

"If Germany respects to Turkey's sovereignty rights, it should recognize FETO as terrorist organization, a villainous organization that is even worse than PKK," said Bahceli.

Bahceli also called on Germany to extradite FETO members to Turkey.

According to the Turkish government, the FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah 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.