Turkey's three years of fight against FETO terror group

By Dilara Hamit

ANKARA (AA) - Since the deadly FETO coup attempt in 2016, Turkey has exerted an active struggle against the terrorist organization domestically and abroad.

The defeated coup of July 15, 2016 -- the heinous and the deadliest terrorist attack the country has ever experienced -- revealed the grave threat posed by the FETO terrorist organization to Turkey.

In the defeated coup 251 citizens were killed and more than 2000 people were injured.

During the coup attempt the Turkish people who have stood against this horrific threat have fervently and courageously demonstrated to the world that they did not recognize any power over their will and stood ready to sacrifice their lives to protect their State and the democratic system.

The coup attempt revealed the dark network beginning from schools established over the last few decades by FETO.

The organization brainwashed children at schools under the disguise of so-called training activities, and its radical followers carried out the instructions of the organization and violated all legal and moral norms.

FETO strengthened its economic and political influence by abusing the State’s resources and authority for the vile interests of the organization, but on July 15, Turkey was able to grasp the sheer size of the secret structure established by FETO within its most critical institution, Turkish Armed Forces.

In the past three years Turkey under its rule of law has brought the perpetrators of the coup attempt to justice.

The FETO organizational structure within the governmental institutions has been unveiled, and administrative and judicial procedures have been initiated against its members and the parallel state structure has been brought down.

The attempts to spread the terrorist organization across all areas of the economy via its shell entities, particularly in the education, media and banking sectors have been defeated.

The three main objectives Turkey is trying to conduct for its fight against FETO is to demonstrate and prove the fact that FETO poses a threat to the security of other countries where it remains active.

Turkey also limits the space of FETO abroad to prevent its members from transferring money and escaping justice.

Over this issue the main ringleaders of the structure of the terrorist organization abroad are also located.

Lastly, the Turkish Maarif Foundation, which Turkey established in 2016 to take over the administration of overseas schools linked to FETO, maintains its activities all around the world to prevent any shortfalls resulting from the steps taken against FETO, especially in the field of education.

The organization, which lost its backbone in Turkey, is now trying to survive by making use of its structure abroad.

The fight against FETO structures abroad has been among the top priorities of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Over the years the international community is gradually understanding that FETO is not a social movement that has engaged with education and charity, contrary to the way it tries to portray itself, but rather a dark and insidious organization with political and economic ambitions.

FETO was declared as a terrorist organization by various countries and international organizations. The Organization of Islamic Conference in its 43rd council foreign ministers' session declared FETO as a terrorist organization.

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the Supreme Court of Pakistan also declared FETO as a terrorist organization with the verdict rendered on December 28, 2018.

The number of FETO members attempting to escape the countries in which they are active has been on the rise, particularly in Africa, as well as Turkey.

The organization still strives to make up victimization stories by resorting to unfounded news through the use of their existing media outlets.

It also attempts to strengthen cooperation with circles hostile to Turkey by using public relations and lobbying methods.

Turkey fully puts its effort for a long-term fight to eliminate the structures of FETO abroad.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup attempt 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.