ANKARA: Turkey’s issuing of an arrest warrant for Fethullah Gulen on charges of ordering last month’s bid to overthrow President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been dismissed by the US-based cleric who denies any involvement.
In the warrant, which was issued on Thursday, Gulen stands accused of “ordering the July 15 coup,” the Anadolu news agency reported.
But Gulen, who strongly denies any involvement in the failed putsch, has denounced the warrant as meaningless, saying it was typical of a justice system which was not independent.
“The issuance of an arrest warrant from a Turkish court changes nothing about my status or my views,” Gulen said in a statement late Thursday, noting his repeated condemnation of the attempted coup and denial of any knowledge of or involvement in it.
“It is well-documented that the Turkish court system is without judicial independence, so this warrant is yet another example of President Erdogan’s drive for authoritarianism and away from democracy,” he said.
In a separate surprise development — which the US State Department refused to confirm — Erdogan said US Secretary of State John Kerry was planning to visit Turkey later this month. “I think their secretary of state is coming on the 21st,” Erdogan told state-run TRT television.
The warrant was issued as Washington reviews two sets of documents sent by Turkey allegedly detailing Gulen’s involvement in the attempted putsch and requesting his extradition.
Within the next two weeks, Turkey’s foreign and justice ministers will travel to Washington to explain in person the Pennsylvania-based preacher’s alleged role, Erdogan said.
Just days after the coup, Kerry said Turkey must present “genuine evidence” and “not allegations” against the cleric for his extradition.
In the warrant, which was issued on Thursday, Gulen stands accused of “ordering the July 15 coup,” the Anadolu news agency reported.
But Gulen, who strongly denies any involvement in the failed putsch, has denounced the warrant as meaningless, saying it was typical of a justice system which was not independent.
“The issuance of an arrest warrant from a Turkish court changes nothing about my status or my views,” Gulen said in a statement late Thursday, noting his repeated condemnation of the attempted coup and denial of any knowledge of or involvement in it.
“It is well-documented that the Turkish court system is without judicial independence, so this warrant is yet another example of President Erdogan’s drive for authoritarianism and away from democracy,” he said.
In a separate surprise development — which the US State Department refused to confirm — Erdogan said US Secretary of State John Kerry was planning to visit Turkey later this month. “I think their secretary of state is coming on the 21st,” Erdogan told state-run TRT television.
The warrant was issued as Washington reviews two sets of documents sent by Turkey allegedly detailing Gulen’s involvement in the attempted putsch and requesting his extradition.
Within the next two weeks, Turkey’s foreign and justice ministers will travel to Washington to explain in person the Pennsylvania-based preacher’s alleged role, Erdogan said.
Just days after the coup, Kerry said Turkey must present “genuine evidence” and “not allegations” against the cleric for his extradition.
