Basri Aktepe, a former National Intelligence Organization (MİT) official who was removed from his post in the aftermath of a failed coup in July 2016, has been handed down a jail sentence of 12 years on terrorism charges due to his alleged links to the Gülen movement, the T24 news website reported.
The Turkish government accuses the Gülen movement of masterminding the failed coup on July 15, 2016 and labels it a “terrorist organization,” although the movement strongly denies involvement in the coup attempt or any terrorist activity.
Aktepe was given the jail sentence on charges of membership in a terrorist organization.
Before removal from his post, Aktepe used to work as the chief consultant at MİT.
Following the coup attempt, the Turkish government launched a massive crackdown on followers of the movement under the pretext of an anti-coup fight as a result of which more than 150,000 people were removed from state jobs while in excess of 30,000 others were jailed and some 600,000 people have been investigated on allegations of terrorism.