Turkey Embassy observes 1st anniversary of country’s victory over Feto coup attempt

The Embassy of Turkey in The Gambia yesterday commenced the commemoration of its country’s democratic victory over the Fethullah Organisation (Feto), whose coup attempt on 15 July 2016 in the country was foiled by the people and loyal army of Turkey.

Feto (also known as Gülen Group) led by Fethullah Gülen - is held responsible for the coup attempt aimed at overthrowing the democratically-elected government and legitimate president of Turkey, H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Last year 15 July, some members of the Turkish military attempted to overthrow President Erdogan, but failed when the people of Turkey took to the streets for days to denounce the coup attempt and call for democracy to prevail.

The failed coup attempt took over 240 lives by the time it was quelled by the people and loyal forces of Turkey, whom President Erdogan called upon to take to the streets in support of democracy.

In narrating the putsch, considered to be the bloodiest in the history of Turkey, Turkey’s Ambassador to The Gambia, Ismail Sefa Yuceer, said Feto is a sinister organization that recruited its members through cells and schooling and got well trained and educated members successfully infiltrate the civil service, the public and strategic private sector organisations as well as the media and the judiciary over a 40-year period since 1966 before the coup onslaught in 2016.

He also advised other countries where the Feto or Gulen movement may have got establishments such as schools, businesses and other organisations, to get them exposed and expelled, or to discontinue such relations, as they are “terrorists” and wolves in sheep’s clothing. 

He said the Turkey government has been pursuing Feto members to get rid of them in the system of Turkey, as they had successfully infiltrated every fabric of the country.

However, over the years, they had made bases in other parts of the world such as in Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa, he said, adding that they are terrorists that should not be condoned in other countries, which is why the people of Turkey defended democracy by resisting their coup attempt.

Responding to questions from journalists, Ambassador Yuceer said the Turkey government would continue to share information and database about perpetrators of the July 15, 2016 coup attempt and the Feto movement, as those that associated and arrested in the putsch are prosecuted through the courts.

While emphasising that such a sinister movement and its attack on Turkey will never be tolerated or happen again in the country, Ambassador Yuceer said those arrested in the media “are not really journalists but sinister people in the Feto terrorist organization disguising themselves as journalists”.

He also applauded the cordial relations between Turkey and The Gambia, saying it has always been cordial and his country would continue to maintain fruitful relations with the Government and people of The Gambia.

In his remarks prior to the briefing, the deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, Mr Ebrima Jobe, congratulated the Government and people of Turkey for containing the 2016 coup attempt.

“The government and people of The Gambia believe on the process of democratisation,”Mr Jobe said, adding: “On that note, we are in full solidarity with the Government and people of Turkey.”

Fethullah Gülen, who is the leader of the Feto Movement, is said to be residing in the US, while the Turkish government is seeking his extradition.

Born 27 April 1941 Muhammed Fethullah Gülen is a preacher and imam, as well as a writer, who founded the Gülen Movement. The movement successfully established schools and other learning institutions in Turkey and other parts of the world such as Africa.

Gülen used his movement for “something sinister” with the ultimate objective of dethroning President Erdogan, who was his close ally.