As part of a witch-hunt against the faith-based Gülen movement, İzmir prosecutor Berkant Karakaya has prepared an indictment against Muslim scholar Fethullah Gülen for allegedly forming a terrorist organization named “FETÖ,” a term coined by the government.
The 3,000-page-long indictment reportedly consists mainly of “confessions” of “secret witnesses” and argues that Gülen orchestrated a coup attempt in Turkey on July 15.
A story appearing in the Hürriyet daily that details the arguments of the government without seeking counter opinions or views of the accused, alleges the existence of a secret organization aiming to control the military. The prosecutor further claims that the Gülen movement has chosen İzmir as its “capital.”
Despite harsh accusations against Gülen and the movement he inspired, there has as of yet been no court verdict proving the commission of terrorist activity. A Hatay court last month handed down a verdict saying that there is no proof to support the existence of an organization named “FETÖ.”
Gülen has denied the charges that he ordered a coup and says that anyone who might have been involved with the coup and claims to follow his teachings has betrayed them.
The government has undertaken a massive purge against real and perceived sympathizers of Gülen and the movement and has arrested a large number of people including numerous relatives of the Muslim scholar.