A court in Istanbul has issued an arrest warrant for US-based Turkish cleric Fetullah Gulen.
A court in Istanbul has issued an arrest warrant for US-based Turkish cleric Fetullah Gulen. Ankara claims he masterminded the July 15 coup attempt.
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Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to cut off financial resources and businesses linked to the cleric.
Erdogan accuses Gulen of harnessing his network of schools, charities and businesses to infiltrate state institutions and build a so-called parallel structure that aimed to take over Turkey.
Erdogan accuses Gulen of harnessing his extensive network of schools, charities and businesses, built up in Turkey and abroad over decades, to infiltrate state institutions and build a “parallel structure” that aimed to take over the country.
“We will not forgive those who finance that bullet just like we do not forgive those who fire that bullet onto our people,” said Erdogan. “At this point, every school, every cram school, every home of this organisation is a nest of terrorism. Every business, every charity, every association of this organisation is a terrorist organisation.”
Turkish authorities has already seized a bank, taken over or closed several media companies, and detained businessmen on allegations of funding Gulen’s movement before the failed coup.