Turkey’s Parliamentary Speaker Yıldırım blasts US over extradition of Fethullah Gülen

ISTANBUL

Turkey’s Parliamentary Speaker Binali Yıldırım has blasted the United States for its lack of action in extraditing Fethullah Gülen, the U.S.-based leader of the illegal FETÖ.

“Everything is clear. He [Gülen] is the one who ordered the coup [attempt in 2016]. We have every kind of document and information but our friends, the country which we know as an ally, stands by idly,” Yıldırım said, speaking at the opening of the TRT World Forum in Istanbul on Oct. 3.

“Why don’t you [calling on the U.S.] even start an investigation [into Gülen]? Are you worried other things will come out [of the investigation]? Turkey has presented several documents in front of them [U.S. officials], but [they have done] nothing,” Yıldırım said.

FETÖ and Gülen are widely believed to have orchestrated the failed coup of July 15, 2016, which left 251 people killed and nearly 2,200 injured.

Turkey has long complained of the U.S.’ slowness in responding to its request for Gülen’s extradition.

Yıldırım has also criticized the U.S. of “open and direct” support for the Syrian Kurdish YPG, which Ankara considers a terrorist organization for its links to the illegal PKK.

“Thousands of trucks loaded with weapons, missiles and every kind of ammunition are being transferred to this terror organization [YPG],” he said.

“Cooperating with a terror organization can never be excused,” said the parliamentary speaker.

“Terror [groups] should not be financed by any means; arms and money should not be provided,” he said.

Yıldırım has also criticized the EU during his speech and said the union was not active enough in working to tackle international problems.

“The EU’s approach to the world’s current problems is far from finding solutions,” he said.

Turkey is one of the countries paying the “biggest price” due to the ongoing civil war in Syria, the parliament speaker said.

“We have received our 3.5 million [Syrian] brothers with open arms and helped them hold onto life,” said Yıldırım.

“Our understanding and beliefs required this,” said the parliamentary speaker.