Turkish Cyprus joins clampdown on Gülenist groups
NICOSIA – Anadolu Agency
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Turkey is cooperating with the Turkish Cypriot government to clamp down on groups linked to Fethullah Gülen, the U.S.-based Islamic scholar accused of being behind the July 15 failed coup bid, the Turkish ambassador said on Aug. 1.Derya Kanbay, Turkey’s envoy in Nicosia, told Anadolu Agency that the foiled coup was a “traitorous attack aiming to overthrow the government” by the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) that Gülen is said to lead.
The envoy said they knew there were FETÖ branches in Turkish Cyprus, adding, “We have been in cooperation with the government to eliminate them and to prohibit their activities.”
Since the attempted coup, Turkey has arrested around 16,000 suspected Gülen supporters and dismissed tens of thousands more from their jobs.
Turkish Cyprus also lists FETÖ as a terrorist group.
