Traitors deservedly defeated, says Turkish top general

ISTANBUL – Anadolu Agency

Turkey's most senior soldier said Aug. 7 that “the heaviest penalty” would be imposed on those behind the July 15 attempted coup.

Gen. Hulusi Akar, chief of the general staff who was held hostage during the coup attempt, was speaking at the Democracy and Martyrs' Rally in Istanbul's Yenikapı district to mark the defeat of the coup bid.

Referring to the Fethullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) that has been accused of planning the takeover, Akar said there was “no doubt the heaviest penalty would be imposed on the blood-shedders of FETO.”    
   
Akar said the “betrayers were challenged and defeated as they deserved in the squares.”

It is extremely rare for a senior Turkish military figure to address a  public gathering.