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.
