Council on Foreign Relations to host senior Gülenist in closed-door event

Council on Foreign Relations, a Washington-based think-tank, will host a closed-door discussion with former editor-in-chief of now-closed Zaman daily, Abdülhamit Bilici on Tuesday. Turkish news sources say there is at least an arrest order for Bilici, who is believed to be a senior level name among the Gülenist network.

Turkish government has designated Pennsylvania-based fugitive preacher Fetullah Gülen and his followers as a terror group, calling them as Gülenist terror group (FETÖ). Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) also recognizes it as a terror group.

Multiple court cases say there are tangible evidence proving the complicity of Gülen and his followers in the failed coup attempt last year, leaving over 249 people dead and over 2200 injured.

The invitation for the non-attributable event say Bilici will discuss Turkish politics and foreign policy in the meeting. The invitation does not mention the fact that Bilici and his former newspaper are associated with Fetullah Gülen and his opaque network.

The presider for the event would be Steven A. Cook, a Turkey and Egypt expert at CFR.

Bilici and his colleagues have been travelling around the United States and holding events to provide a Gülenist narrative on the failed coup and the current affairs in Turkey. Most of these events were held at non-Gülen organizations with free drinks and food. Some sources have suggested that Gülenists were providing funds to the host think-tanks for the events.

CFR Communications said in an email that the think-tank did not receive contributions for their event.