Turkey to probe FETÖ under single authority

Turkey has decided to merge various authorities probing the Fethullahist Terror Organization (FETÖ) - blamed for the July 2016 coup attempt - under a single roof in order to increase efficiency in hunting clandestine members of the network who are still functioning within the state.

According to daily Hürriyet’s chief political reporter Nuray Babacan, the two existing commissions set at the presidential office and at the prime ministry will be merged under a single roof. The commission set by presidential advisors was tasked to investigate positions of state bureaucracy particularly the military, police, governors and district governors in order to disclose members of FETÖ. Their findings have been shared with relevant state bodies conducting the investigations for further actions. 

A similar team was established in the prime ministry after the July 15, 2016 coup attempt who had earlier suggested that merging these two bodies for a more concerted investigation on FETÖ members would be more efficient. 

The new body will be run by a single person, who will be appointed after the merge. The main aim of the body will be to disclose existing FETÖ members in the government who have remained hidden till today since the coup attempt. 

For this, priority will be given to towns where FETÖ was most active and concentrated. Communication links and financial transactions will be scrutinized to enhance the investigation.  

As a result of a major crackdown, 40,000 people have been arrested and 100,000 bureaucrats have been dismissed on the grounds they were linked to Gülenist coup plotters.