Press release

THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF THE HISTORIC DAY FOR DEMOCRACY: TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHO IS REALLY WHO?

12 july, 2019

Gürol Sökmensüer*

It has been three years since Turkey faced the bloodiest terrorist attack in the history of the Republic of Turkey. On the evening of 15 July 2016, the perpetrators targeted the democratic institutions and elected leaders, shot at their own people, bombed the presidential complex, police and intelligence headquarters, while civilians came out to resist the coup. The Turkish Parliament, which is the stronghold of the democracy, was bombed several times on that night, while the deputies of all political parties were inside.

Putting their all differences aside, regardless of whom they support politically, Turkish people from all segments of life came together to protect their democratic rights against the perpetrators of an heinous coup attempt. They took the streets and outbraved. 251 people including police and civilians were martyred, and nearly 2,200 were wounded while resisting the coup attempt. A lovely summertime, which first evolved into a horrifying nightmare, eventually became a historic victory for the Turkish democracy to always remember.

It would be irrational for any country, which have faced such a terrorist attack causing the deaths of its own citizens and evidently targeting its democracy, not to try to find out the perpetrators and the mastermind of this ill-minded attempt and fight against them.All political parties stood firmly by democratic institutions and elected leaders of the country in unity with the Turkish people throughout the process.

All intelligences, evidences and testimonies collected after this terrorist attack affirmed that the group, known as Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), organized it.

FETÖ, isbeingdirectedbyprimaryschoolgraduateFethullah Gulen who is believed to be a “World Imam” by his disciples. This cult emerged in 1970s as a movement providing education services.FETÖ promotes itself as a provider of education and its members introduce themselves abroad as volunteers of education and peace. Yet, theyconcealtheirrealidentitiesandinfiltrateintothecriticalstate institutions like army, judiciary, security and intelligence units. This situation itself reveals the actual objective of the organization, which is seizing control of state institutions.

Under their deviant religious ideology, they consider everything legitimate to achieve their goals including resorting to all sorts of deception, conspiracy, wire-tapping, money laundering and other illegal activities. With years of confidential trainings and dissuasion activities, they have gained a high level of professionalism. They operate with a radical “devotion” and consider themselves as “chosen ones”. Its members disguise themselves as the representatives of a civil movement called “Hizmet” (Service), a moderate and tolerant inter-faith dialogue promoter. For that aim, they established a variety of associations in education, media, business, humanitarian work, printing and banking sectors were established first in Turkey and later in different parts of the world.

Under the guise of legitimate social service efforts, Gulen movement and his followers from all segments of professions, have gained access to vast financial resources, human capital, political and social influence in the countries they are based in.

Such wealth and influence have not been obtained through legal businesses. On the contrary, by resorting to the extraordinary means and tools, which are very beyond the use of an ordinary terrorist organization, they have established large networks for money laundering, bribing and illegal operations through shady firms and holdings.

We had already been exerting efforts to unveil the existence of this structure inside the state and had made significant progress to this end. However, the July 15 coup attempt bitterly revealed that the threat we are facing is beyond our estimation, that it is much deeper and more vital.

Opening schools in over 160 countries and claiming to promote interfaith dialogue, this terrorist organization and its masked members is unfortunately seem to have gained the trust of the people that they easily abuse, when the time comes. One of the statements of Fethullah Gülenduring a sermon reveals the method of the organization : “the philosophy of our service is that we open a house somewhere and, with the patience of spider, we lay our web, to wait for people to get caught in the web…” The schools are the “houses” which are the main financial and recruitment groundsand where “they wait for people to get caught in the web.”

There is an important question to be answered by the ones who believe that the schools operated by FETÖ members under the guise of teachers are not harmful. Is it conceivable for an “education movement” to operate in cell structures, recognize members with code names, develop encrypted applications to communicate among themselves, teach its members techniques of counter-intelligence and tactics to mask their affiliation?

We have destroyed the backbone of the organization in Turkey with the measures we have taken. All segments of Turkish society share and support the idea that unless the FETÖ threat is eliminated, Turkey’s unity and security cannot be guaranteed. Acknowledging that terrorism itself is a flagrant violation of human rights, Turkey has been decisively undertaking its right and responsibility to take the necessary measures for the protection of democracy, rule of law as well as the fundamental rights in accordance with its national legislation and international obligations.

Considerable part of international community has also understood that FETÖ is not a social and charity movement, which provides education in high standards at global scale as they play the role, but actually is a dark and secretive operational structure with political and economic ambitions. A significant awareness and public opinion regarding the essence of FETÖ have already raised at international level. The states, which closely monitor and investigate the activities of the structures, companies and schools affiliated with FETÖ, easily found out the illegal affairs and operations conducted by the members of FETÖ. More than 20 countries have already extradited or deported the members of this terrorist organization from their territories. While 36 countries terminated the operations of FETÖ-linked schools based in their countries, Turkish Maarif Foundation, a non-profit public educational institution operating internationally, has completely taken over the schools in 18 countries.

However the threat is still alive in many countries. They continue to plant treacherous seeds in other states. This time, they are more actively seeking global economic and political influence for their survival. We warn our friends and countries in danger posed by FETÖ. In order to defeat this type of terrorism, international solidarity is highly crucial.

*Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to the Republic of Moldova

Add Comment

Add Comment

  • name
  • email
  • message
Thanks!
Your comment will be published after administrator approval.