Bosnia court rejects extradition of Turkish national over FETÖ links

SARAJEVO – Reuters

A Bosnian court has dismissed a request for extradition to Turkey of a Turkish national, one among several wanted for alleged links to the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), the network of U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen.

The court’s final ruling comes at a time of increased pressure by Turkey on its allies to deport people believed to be linked to schools financed by the Gülen network, which is widely believed to have carried out the coup attempt on July 15, 2016.

The Appeals Chamber of Bosnia’s state court last month ruled against the extradition of Hümeyra Gökçen on the grounds that she had requested asylum in Bosnia before Turkey had asked for her extradition. The ruling was not made public.

The court did not provide more details on the case nor did it comment on whether there were other such requests for deportation.

But a source close to the matter confirmed to Reuters on April 23 that Turkey has requested the extradition of several more people who have arrived in Bosnia after the coup attempt, over links to the schools believed to be financed by the Gülen network.

During his visit to Sarajevo in March, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım said more action should be taken against FETÖ suspects there, “especially in the sectors of education and business.”

Last month, six Turkish nationals arrested in Kosovo over links to FETÖ-linked schools were secretly extradited to Turkey, prompting Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj to dismiss the interior minister and the state security chief.

Earlier this month, the Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MİT) also brought three members of FETÖ from the Central African country Gabon to the Turkish capital Ankara and Erdoğan vowed on April 7 that Turkey would “continue to pursue suspects” abroad.

Ankara accuses FETÖ of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.