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Turkey to strip citizenship of 'fugitives' including FETO ringleader Gülen

130 FETO and PKK suspected people including the U.S.-based FETO ringleader Gülen will be stripped of Turkish citizenship if they do not return to the country within three months.

Agencies and A News WORLD
Published June 05,2017
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Turkey will revoke the citizenship of 130 individuals if they do not return to Turkey within three months, according to a government decision officially published Monday.

The Interior Ministry list includes Fetullah Gülen -- who is accused of leading the failed July 2016 coup that martyred 250 people-as well as opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Deputies Faysal Sarıyıldız and Fatma Hezer Öztürk.

Gülen, who has lived in the U.S. since 1999, has been charged by Turkish prosecutors with forming an armed terrorist organization as well as with orchestrating the failed coup.

Ankara has accused Gülen's Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.

Sarıyıldız stands accused of providing weapons for a terrorist group, while Öztürk is accused of spreading terrorist propaganda and membership in an armed terrorist organization.

The ministry also named Osman Hilmi Özdil, allegedly a senior member of FETO in charge of its police infiltration, as wanted by authorities. He is thought to be in Thailand.

According to the ministry list, former Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) Deputy Özdal Üçer could also lose his citizenship unless he returns.

The 130 individuals -- all being sought by Turkish authorities -- face terrorism-related charges and crimes against Turkey's constitutional order.