Turkish courts convict 12 for their FETO links

Twelve people were convicted and sentenced to jail terms across Turkey on Thursday for being members of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind last year's defeated coup attempt, according to a security source.

In northwestern Kocaeli province, the 2nd High Criminal Court sentenced four people to 21 years and three months in prison for membership of an armed terrorist organization and for using ByLock, FETO's encrypted smartphone messaging application.

In eastern Malatya province, the 2nd High Criminal Court sentenced a former police officer to seven years and six months for using ByLock and being a member of an armed terrorist organization.

The defendant was also accused of regularly depositing money in Bank Asya -- a lender affiliated with FETO, which has recently declared bankruptcy.

In central Eskisehir province, seven former teachers appeared before the court.

The 2nd High Criminal Court gave them jail terms ranging from two years to 12 years.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup attempt of July 15, 2016, which left 250 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.