No technical obstacles left for US to extradite Gülen: Turkish justice minister

There are no obstacles left for the United States to extradite the U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen to Turkey, Turkish Justice Minister Abdülhamit Gül has said, stressing that all files were sent to Washington.

“All processes in accordance with international and extradition agreements were completed. No technical or document-related obstacles are left for the U.S. to extradite Gülen,” Gül told journalists during a reception organized for the Turkish parliament’s opening on Oct. 1, adding that the ministry is following the issue.

The extradition of Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) leader Gülen, widely believed to have been behind the July 15, 2016, failed coup attempt, has been an issue of major tension between Ankara and Washington, with Turkey demanding his extradition for many months.

Gül was also asked about the “single-type” court attire that will be introduced for Gülenist suspects as well as those accused on terror charges.

Saying that works regarding the issue have been ongoing, Gül noted that the efforts will be shared with the public.

The move to make all FETÖ suspects wear uniforms in court came after a suspect stirred debate by appearing before a judge in July wearing a t-shirt bearing the logo “hero.” A number of other people were then detained by police across Turkey for wearing t-shirts with “hero” written on them.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan first demanded court attire “like in Guantanamo” on the anniversary of the thwarted coup, and in the following days it was decided that Gülenist suspects will wear “single-type” brown jumpsuits during court appearances.

“Now we are introducing the single-type attire. It will be dark almond-colored. There will be jumpsuits and there will be jackets and trousers,” Erdoğan said on Aug. 5, implying that jumpsuits will be worn by “coup plotters” and jackets and trousers will be worn by “terrorists.”

Meanwhile, a special team that was formed for the apprehension of a key coup attempt suspect was dissolved, daily Habertürk reported on Oct. 2.

A team was formed by police to catch Adil Öksüz, known as the Gülen movement’s “imam of the Air Force,” who was detained near a key air base in Ankara on the morning of July 16, 2016, only to be released by Judge Çetin Sönmez on July 18, 2016, after which he went on the run.

“Imam,” which traditionally refers to a religious public worker, is a term used by Gülenists to mark local leadership.

According to Habertürk, those involved in the special team were assigned to new duties and the search to apprehend Öksüz is ongoing.