CHP urges gov’t to reveal ‘political links’ of Turkey’s coup attempt

Rifat Başaran - ANKARA

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The government should reveal the roots of the Fethullahist Terror Organization’s (FETÖ) infiltration into state institutions, main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has said, claiming that the extension of the state of emergency aimed to obscure the “political links” behind the Gülen movement’s power grab. 

“The extension of the state of emergency is not a right decision. It should be stopped immediately. The reason behind the extension is to prevent investigation into the political roots of the coup. The [Justice and Development Party] AKP is reluctant about this,” Kılıçdaroğlu told his party’s executive board on Oct. 5, according to sources who wanted to remain anonymous. 

“[The investigation into Gülenists] is getting into the police forces, the judiciary, the health system, education, mosques. But without investigating the administrative roots, [the probes] are blunt,” he added.

The CHP head criticized the government’s “indiscriminate” post-coup attempt probe was damaging Turkey’s reputation, saying nobody should be declared guilty without a court decision.

Kılıçdaroğlu previously accused the government of bringing Turkey’s “to the verge of a coup,” referring to political instability after 14 years of AKP governments. 


‘Victimhood may be used by FETÖ’

Recalling his previous comments warning officials to stick to the principle of presumption of innocence and individual responsibility, the CHP leader said the post-coup investigations would embroil innocent people, which could have unforeseen consequences. 

“This victimhood may be used by FETÖ to try to gain legitimacy in the international arena,” he said.

“For this reason, all accusations should be carefully investigated. However, currently people who went to Gülen-linked schools because of lack of choice have been suspended from their positions. Others who simply had an account at Bank Asya [a bank affiliated with the Gülen movement] have been imprisoned,” Kılıçdaroğlu added.

The CHP leader also referred to reports of torture against detainees taken into custody after the coup attempt, saying the accusations should be investigated swiftly. 

“All the torture claims should be investigated seriously. If not, it would damage Turkey’s reputation,” Kılıçdaroğlu said, adding that parliament’s Human Rights Inquiry Committee should investigate the claims.