An Antalya man who killed his father in August appeared in court on Tuesday and claimed that it was followers of the faith-based Gülen movement who were responsible for the murder, Medya Bold reported on Wednesday.
Süleyman Doğru (37), who allegedly killed his father, Hüseyin Doğru (60), by beating him to death, said in his defense in court that “FETÖ people did it, and now they are trying to put the blame on me.”
FETÖ is a derogatory term that the Turkish government uses to label the Gülen movement as a terrorist organization despite the denials of the movement of involvement in any criminal activity. The government launched a witch-hunt against real and perceived followers of the movement in the wake of December 2013 corruption investigations that implicated the government. The witch-hunt turned into a massive purge after a July 15, 2016 coup attempt that the Turkish government accuses the movement of masterminding.
The Antalya 6th High Criminal Court is hearing the trial of Doğru who, if convicted, faces aggravated life for killing his father. The judge reportedly asked the suspect about a message he sent to a friend in which he said he blames the Gülen movement for the murder. The suspect admitted sending such a message. His siblings also filed a criminal complaint against the suspect for murdering the father as a result of an ongoing argument over money.
The pro-government media machine in Turkey accuses the movement of many crimes including unresolved political murders that took place over the last couple of decades. Tens of thousands of supporters of the movement from all walks of life are imprisoned mainly on coup charges.