Gülen ordered followers to leave Turkey by disguising themselves as Syrian refugees: Report

Fevzi Kızılkoyun – ANKARA

The U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen has ordered his followers to leave Turkey by disguising themselves as Syrian refugees, according to a report prepared by intelligence units about the activities of the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), widely believed to have orchestrated the July 15, 2016, failed coup attempt. 

The report dated May 26 said Gülen gave the order to the group’s “imams” in Turkey, while describing routes they could take to leave the country in detail. 

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

According to the report, prepared by deciphering encrypted messages and sent to related state institutions, Gülen’s order followed the detention of some 1,200 Gülenists in operations.

The Gülenist “imams” contacted human smugglers and made deals with them to provide other FETÖ members with an escape plan. 

“Fake green passports were prepared for each of the group’s members for 5,000 euros. The cost of leaving the country is also 5,000 euros. The Gülenists don’t speak Turkish until they leave the country and try to disguise themselves as refugees, particularly from Syria, then they flee Turkey,” the report said, adding that human smugglers charged different prices for each FETÖ member. 

In addition, according to the report, FETÖ provided financial support to Gülenist “imams” escaping the country, creating tension with low-ranked members. 

“This bothered Gülenists, as those who did not have enough money could not escape. This also stirred tension within the group. Those who are bothered are constantly given hope and are tried to be calmed down in order to prevent them from becoming confessors,” it also said.