Türkiye will continue to fight FETO terrorist organization: Communications director

By Saduman Turkay

ANKARA (AA) – Türkiye will continue its fight against the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), which threatens not only the country but also other nations in all fields, the country’s communications director said Monday.

“We will continue to fight against this terrorist organization that threatens not only Türkiye but also the security of all states where it operates,” Fahrettin Altun said in an article written for the occasion of July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day.

Altun’s article was published by nearly 50 news outlets, including newspapers, magazines and news portals, in 15 countries, according to a statement issued by the directorate.

Altun said that FETO’s coup plotters had attempted to assassinate Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

He noted that from the initial moments of the coup attempt, the Turkish government took action to restore order and bring the perpetrators to justice.

In this process, statements by President Erdogan and state officials revealed that the coup attempt was carried out by an illegal group that infiltrated the Turkish Armed Forces, operating outside the chain of command.

Altun underlined that it had been conclusively determined that FETO was behind the coup attempt and that the organization's leader, residing in the US, had orchestrated this treasonous action through a parallel structure within the state.

He highlighted that the victory achieved was not only recognized as Türkiye’s but also recorded as one of the most honorable acts of resistance in the history of global democracy.

Altun also drew attention to Ankara’s expectation of solidarity from friendly and allied countries in the extradition of FETO fugitives and leaders who have fled abroad.

“In the international community, while many countries showed support for and solidarity with Türkiye, the response from some of our allied countries to the coup attempt was inadequate. The way in which these countries' media outlets covered the coup attempt was also far from satisfactory for Türkiye.

“Western media organizations, which bear international responsibility, attempted to simplify the events of July 15 by framing the bloody coup attempt against our democracy as a mere conflict between two sides. Despite numerous efforts, our ally the US did not provide a positive response on the extradition of the organization's leader, who has taken refuge in Pennsylvania. This attitude, at a time when there was a clear threat to our democracy, was disappointing for us,” Altun said.

Noting that they are aware that FETO continues its activities in many geographical locations, including allied countries, he underlined: “As a country that has further strengthened its democratic institutions following the treacherous coup attempt, our struggle against the terrorist organization that aimed to jeopardize the lives of our citizens and our country's independence will continue in every field. We will continue to honor the memory of our citizens who sacrificed their lives on that bloody night while safeguarding Türkiye’s independence and future."

Since its designation in October 2016, every year, the nation marks July 15 as Democracy and National Unity Day, with events held nationwide to commemorate those who lost their lives beating back the putschists and to remember the bravery of the nation.

Turkish officials have requested that the US extradite FETO’s US-based leader, Fethullah Gulen, who is living in Pennsylvania, to face Turkish justice, but US officials have not granted the request.

The defeated coup bid, in which 252 people were killed and 2,734 were wounded, was plotted and carried out by FETO and Gulen.

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.

*Writing by Esra Tekin in Istanbul