Theology assistant prof may be number one man of July 15 coup attempt: Columnist

ISTANBUL

A Turkish columnist known for his previous links to Fethullah Gülen, the alleged mastermind of the July 15 coup attempt, has said a theology assistant professor suspected of being inside Akıncılar Air Base in Ankara, from where the coup activities were allegedly orchestrated, could be the leading figure in the attempt. 

Speaking on Turkish broadcaster 24 TV, columnist Hüseyin Gülerce said that Sakarya University Theology Faculty Assistant Prof. Adil Öksüz could be the main suspect of the coup’s management if he was present at the Akıncılar Air Base on the night of the attempt.

“It is said that there is footage of Adil Öksüz at Akıncılar Base that night. I am talking as if [this footage] exists. Then Öksüz is definitely the number one of the coup attempt. For sure... if this theology assistant professor was seen there [Akıncılar Base], for sure he is the number one,” said Gülerce, adding that there was another detail which strengthened the suspicion that Öksüz was the coup’s “number-one-man,” saying “this man [Öksüz] had traveled to Pennsylvania in the last 20 days.” Gülen is known to reside at a compound in Pennsylvania.

“Based on the scheme in my head, Fethullah Gülen would not have given the final instructions for such a coup over the phone. He must have given it verbally,” said Gülerce, suspecting that Öksüz had traveled to the U.S. to receive the instructions directly from Gülen. 

Öksüz, who was found by gendarmerie officers early on July 16 in a field close to the Akıncılar Base, said in his prosecutor’s testimony that he came to the area to search for a field to buy, adding he did not know any officers at the base and had never been there before. Freed on probation by a court after his hearing, Öksüz’s whereabouts are unknown.