Turkey’s top soldier urges allies over FETÖ

NOVA SCOTIA

Turkey’s Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar has urged allies over the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), criticizing some countries for regarding the network as a charitable religious organization.

Speaking at the Halifax International Security Forum in Nova Scotia, Canada, Akar recalled more than 250 people were killed and 2,000 others were injured in a coup attempt in 2016.

“Only a year ago, FETÖ, a terrorist organization disguised behind religion, attempted a coup in Turkey,” he said.

The coup attempt was defeated thanks to a “high level of political leadership and the people’s heroic stance,” the general said.

Despite some countries’ support for Turkey against FETÖ, some of them, including some organizations, consider FETÖ an “innocent, religious movement against radicalism” said Akar.

“Unfortunately, members of FETÖ have been granted asylum by our allies. These FETÖ members are continuing to spread their propaganda and lies to these countries,” he also said, expressing his hope that these countries would acknowledge “FETÖ as a threat.”

A total of 615 Turkish citizens with diplomatic or service passports have applied for asylum in Germany since the failed July 15 coup attempt.

Seventeen people sought political asylum in Greece after sneaking into the Greek island of Rhodes from Turkey.

Four Turkish soldiers who were on duty with NATO, as well as a military attaché, applied for asylum in Norway after the coup attempt and it was granted.