Turkey: Izmir district mayor remanded over terror links

IZMIR, Turkey

A district mayor of Turkey’s western Izmir province, was remanded over his suspected links to Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the 2016 defeated coup in Turkey, security sources said on Tuesday.

Ibrahim Burak Oguz was elected as the main opposition Republican People's Party’s (CHP) Urla district mayor in March 31 local elections.

After giving testimony in Izmir chief public prosecutor's office, Oguz was remanded by a criminal court of peace on the charges of membership to FETO terror group.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup on July 15, 2016, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.

* Writing by Sibel Morrow

IZMIR, Turkey

Ibrahim Burak Oguz was elected as the main opposition Republican People's Party’s (CHP) Urla district mayor in March 31 local elections.

After giving testimony in Izmir chief public prosecutor's office, Oguz was remanded by a criminal court of peace on the charges of membership to FETO terror group.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup on July 15, 2016, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.

* Writing by Sibel Morrow