The end of Gülen movement members in Turkey and abroad is “near,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Wednesday.
“I call on all FETÖ members inside and outside of our country: Your end is near. You have nowhere to go, no steps to take,” Erdoğan said at a symposium on local authorities under the new presidential system, according to the state-run Anadolu news agency.
FETÖ is a derogatory term that was coined by the Turkish government during a massive crackdown targeting Gülen-linked individuals.
Erdoğan said US-based leader of the network Fethullah Gülen would come to Turkey “sooner or later.”
“I don’t know until when those who stand behind FETÖ [leader Gülen] will continue supporting him, but he will sooner or later come here [to Turkey],” he said, referring to foreign countries that allegedly support the movement.
Ankara accuses the Gülen network of orchestrating a coup attempt in 2016, although it strongly denies any involvement.
Since then over 600,000 people have been investigated on suspicion of affiliation with the movement.
The government has dismissed some 140,000 public servants over Gülen links.
Erdoğan said Turkey would follow FETÖ members “until they have no place left to hide in the world.”