Some 29,487 jailed in Turkey over FETÖ links

Oya Armutçu – ANKARA

The number of people jailed over charges of having links to FETÖ, the group that orchestrated the failed coup attempt in 2016, is 29,487 as of July 5, according to data provided by the Justice Ministry.

Of this figure, 21,605 have been convicted, whereas the remaining 7,882 are jailed pending trial.

Among the convicted 21,605 people, some 3,611 have been convicted over taking an active role in the July 2016 coup attempt. Of this figure, 1,098 people – including 71 generals – have been handed aggravated life sentences, 1,029 people have been handed life sentences and the remaining 1,384 people have received jail terms ranging between 14 months and 20 years.

Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gül had previously announced that the number of people jailed over FETÖ links was 31,088 as of the beginning of 2019.

Meanwhile, Turkey has so far demanded the extradition of 568 people from 94 countries over their suspected links to FETÖ. A total of 23 countries have accepted Turkey’s demand, handing over 109 FETÖ suspects. Some 44 countries, on the other hand, rejected Turkish authorities’ demand.

FETÖ and its U.S.-based leader Fethullah Gülen orchestrated the failed coup attempt of July 15, 2016, which left 251 people killed and nearly 2,200 injured.

Turkey also 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.