Reveal files of ‘controlled coup’: President Erdoğan to main opposition leader

ANKARA

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has slammed main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu over the latter’s accusation that the government conducted a “controlled coup” on July 15, 2016. 

“Look at this statement, ‘July 15 is a covert coup.’ Where did you find this authority to insult our martyrs? If it is a covert coup, and you have the slightest of honor, a trace of personality; reveal the files so that we will do the necessary,” Erdoğan said at a meeting addressing village heads in Ankara on April 5. 

His comments came after the CHP leader called out ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) officials to reveal the political leg of the coup attempt, arguing that the government has a list containing the names of a number of politicians who are members of the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), which is believed to be behind the coup attempt, but is reluctant to reveal it. 

“It is known that there are between 120 and 180 ByLock users among the AKP leadership. These ByLock users should be revealed,” Kılıçdaroğlu told the editors of television stations in a breakfast meeting on April 3, referring to a mobile application, which is believed to be used almost exclusively by FETÖ members.

“Protecting criminals is a crime. If they are protected, on what grounds are they protected? All this should be revealed. If you hide this list [of ByLock users], it means you are not fighting FETÖ. If you hide them, this suggests that July 15 was a controlled coup attempt,” Kılıçdaroğlu added.

Erdoğan strongly reacted to Kılıçdaroğlu’s claims, accusing the main opposition leader of lying. 

“I have neither been the one who was deceived nor the one who deceived in my whole political career. We will never be either the deceived or the deceiver in the future. Be frank, be right, do not lie to this nation,” he said.