Court: Strip Gulen of Turkish citizenship

ADANA, Turkey

A Turkish court on Friday demanded the country's Justice Ministry strip Fetullah Gulen of Turkish citizenship.

The 11th criminal court in southern Adana province made an official application to the ministry to withdraw Gulen’s citizenship.

Gulen is accused of being the mastermind behind 2016’s coup bid in Turkey and is currently based in the U.S.

"Since Gulen is a fugitive and not able to be reached for his testimony despite an arrest warrant being issued against him, the petition [has been] submitted to the Justice Ministry as part of the statutory decree approved earlier in the year," the petition read.

Ankara has said the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) is behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.

Reporting by Neset Karadag;Writing by Ahmet Sait Akcay