US should ‘not harbor a terrorist like’ Gülen, Erdoğan says
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The United States should “not harbor a terrorist” like the U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen, who is believed to have orchestrated the failed coup attempt of July 15, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told Reuters in an interview on Sept. 19, adding that his activities should be banned around the world.“If the U.S. is our strategic ally and our NATO partner ... then they should not let a terrorist like Gülen run his organization,” Erdoğan said in an interview on the sidelines of an annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations, adding that Washington had “no excuse” for keeping Gülen.
Erdoğan also commented on the three-month state of emergency declared in Turkey after the failed seizure of power, saying it could be extended if necessary.
“It can be extended for three months or one month or even more ... Gülen’s people have infiltrated everywhere ... we will continue to identify and arrest the plotters ... extending the state of emergency will help this process,” he said.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu made similar remarks in an interview with CNN International’s Christiane Amanpour, noting that “the failure of the U.S. authorities to comply with the demands of Ankara regarding the extradition of Gülen disappointed Turkey.”
“Despite this, the relations between Ankara and Washington are continuing, but Turkey is waiting for Gülen’s extradition,” Çavuşoğlu said, adding that necessary files had been sent regarding the case.
