Türkiye confirms the death of Fetullah Gülen, the leader of the terrorist group FETO

ANKARA / ISTANBUL

Turkish intelligence has confirmed the death of FETO terror group leader Fetullah Gülen, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Monday.

“Our intelligence sources confirm the death of the leader of the FETO organization,” Fidan said in response to Anadolu’s question at a joint press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha in Ankara.

Gülen lived in the American state of Pennsylvania. Turkish leaders had long requested his extradition, but U.S. judicial officials did not approve it.

He orchestrated the failed coup of July 15, 2016 in Türkiye, which killed 252 people and injured 2,734.

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

“The leader of this dark organization is dead,” Fidan said, adding that Türkiye’s determination to fight terrorism would not disappear.

“This organization has been a rare focal point of threat in our country’s history. It has deceived thousands of our youth in the name of sacred values ​​and turned them into a machine that betrays their own homeland, nation and sacred values.”

Fidan said such individuals are used by intelligence agencies abroad as weapons against their own countries, nations and values.

“With this death, the spell on them should now be lifted, and I invite them to leave the treacherous path they have embarked on and stop working against their state and nation,” the Turkish diplomat said.

“This path is not a good path. The end of this path is not a good ending. Our nation and state will continue to fight against all terrorist organizations, including this one. They need to know to return while there is still time.”

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