Germany urged to take ‘concrete steps’ against FETO

By Ayhan Simsek

BERLIN

Turkey urged Germany on Sunday to take “concrete steps” against the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) and its members involved in the defeated coup attempt on July 15, 2016.

“Our expectation from the German authorities is to demonstrate their support for democracy by concrete action, not merely by words, and bring coup plotters to justice,” Ambassador Ali Kemal Aydin said.

He made the comments during a commemoration event at the Turkish embassy in Berlin, marking second anniversary of the defeated coup, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

The U.S.-based Fetullah Gulen’s shadowy group FETO orchestrated the coup attempt after a long, secretive campaign to infiltrate state institutions in Turkey.

Around 14,000 Gulen followers and FETO members arrived in Germany over the last two years, according to the country’s international broadcaster DW.

Ambassador Aydin warned that the activities of FETO members in the country were not only a threat for Turkey, but also for Germany’s security and democracy.

“We expect from our friends and allies not to protect these coup plotters, traitors, who are the enemies of democracy,” he said.

While German authorities made critical statements in recent weeks about the group and signaled a tougher stance, they have not yet taken any concrete measures.

Ankara is demanding from Berlin to return FETO suspects and coup plotters to Turkey for a fair and transparent trial at home.

Dozens of former soldiers and officials involved in the coup attempt, and ideological forerunners of the group have been living in Germany, according to media reports.

Adil Oksuz, a top suspect in the 2016 coup attempt, also spent some time in Germany after fleeing Turkey, according to several witnesses.

The 51-year-old theology lecturer received support from FETO network in the country.

Since the 1990s, Gulen’s shadowy group has managed to build a large network in Germany, which is home to more than 3 million Turkish immigrants.

The group owns dozens of private schools, businesses, and several media organizations.