Gülen still managing his terrorist movement from US, Erdoğan tells Biden

“For us the priority is the extradition of Gülen as soon as possible,” Erdoğan said, adding that Gülen should be arrested in light of the mutual deal between Washington and Ankara on the extradition of criminals.

“The agreement between the U.S. and Turkey requires the detention of such people,” he said. 

The Turkish president suggested that Gülen’s extradition request could be adjudicated under a 1979 treaty between Washington and Ankara, one of more than 100 that the U.S. has signed with other states. The treaty requires the U.S. to arrest and detain Gülen for up to 60 days in order to give Turkey time to prepare a formal extradition request and to keep him in custody until a decision is made in the case.

Saying that Turkey sent a total of 85 files before the coup attempt for the U.S. to extradite Gülen, Erdoğan added that Ankara is now working on new files regarding the failed seizure of power. 

“He [Gülen] is continuing his activities. But he could be kept under control and detained, in light of our [1979] deal, which should not be ignored. I believe that the U.S. will take the necessary steps to fulfill our rightful expectation,” he said.

During the same joint press conference, Biden described those involved in the coup attempt as “terrorists” and said the U.S. had more lawyers working on the Gülen extradition request than any other such recent case.

“We will abide by our system. We will continue to abide by the system and, God willing, there will be enough data and evidence to be able to meet the criteria that you all believe exist,” Biden said. 

“We have no reason to shelter someone who would attack an ally and try to overthrow a democracy,” he added.