US court gives Gülen 21 days to present his defense

Fethullah Gülen (Photo: Today's Zaman)
Fethullah Gülen (Photo: Today's Zaman)


Date posted: December 15, 2015

The extradition of U.S.-based Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen was “unofficially” demanded in a civil suit filed last week by lawyers hired by the Turkish government, while a judge who accepted the appeal has given Gülen 21 days to respond to accusations filed against him.

The lawsuit cited three citizens of the Republic of Turkey as plaintiffs who say they have been victimized by the Gülen Movement. Although it hired the lawyers of the case, the Turkish government is not named as a plaintiff in the suit, which was filed on Dec. 7 at a district court in Pennsylvania.

Gülen was one a close ally of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, but relations have soured in recent years.

In order for an extradition to take place, the subject of the case must have committed a crime.

“This lawsuit will display that the Gülen Movement does not have immunity in the U.S.,” Robert Amsterdam, the founder of U.K.-based firm Amsterdam and Partners LLP which filed the suit, told Hürriyet.

Amsterdam and Partners LLP filed the suit along with Pennsylvania-based law firm Fox Rothschild LLP, as Gülen has lived in Pennsylvania since 1999. In statement to Hürriyet, Amsterdam underlined that their appeal was not linked to a separate request for extradition said to have been filed by the Turkish government.

According to information obtained by Hürriyet, Judge Robert Mariani, having put Amsterdam’s petition in process with file number “3:15−CV−02354−RDM” also wrote a document addressed to Gülen on Dec. 7, asking him to respond to the allegations within 21 days.

In a separate document dated Dec. 9 and sent to the attorneys of the complainants, Mariani announced that he would hold a meeting concerning the file within four months.

The eighth article of the petition asking for a jury trial refers to an “unofficial request by the Turkish government for Gülen’s extradition.”

“Mr. Gülen has since been formally charged in Turkey with infiltrating key state institutions in order to overthrow the lawfully elected government. The Government of Turkey has informally requested his extradition to Turkey to stand trial, although Mr. Gülen presently remains in the United States and is residing within this jurisdiction,” said the petition.

When asked whether his company was involved in any stage of the Turkish government’s request for extradition of Gülen, Amsterdam declined to elaborate and briefly said: “The extradition issue is a matter between the governments.”

“My client is the Turkish government but we are defending three victims aggrieved by the Gülen Movement,” he also said, while not making clear whether they were being paid any fee by those three Turkish citizens.

In line with the principle of privacy, the U.S. administration doesn’t make any comments on cases of extradition. However, a U.S. official who previously spoke to Hürriyet on the issue said no application had yet been made at the Department of Justice.

“The main counterpart on this issue is the Justice Department. So far, no official application has been filed to the Justice department. The U.S. Justice Department will look into what can be done when Turkey files its official application, along with documents,” the official said.

The same U.S. official had stressed that Gülen’s involvement in a crime must be proven by a U.S. court in order for his extradition to be possible.

Amsterdam and Partners LLP, meanwhile, stated that its “efforts are both a legal struggle against the Gülen Movement and a political struggle and investigation at the same time. We will present a report about preliminary results of our efforts either in March or April.”

It said accusations against Gülen go beyond the subject of the lawsuit filed, as they include “human smuggling, tax fraud and violation of the migration law.”

The claims against Gülen have been filed under the Alien Tort Statute (ATS), an 18th century law that has been used to try human rights cases from around the world in U.S. courts.

In 2006, Charles “Chuckie” Taylor Jr., the son of Charles Taylor, the former President of Liberia, who was commander of the infamously violent Anti-Terrorist Unit during his father’s presidency, was sentenced for torturing five people in Liberia in a civil suit filed on behalf of five victims pursuant to the ATS.

Source: Hurriyet Daily News , December 14, 2015


Related News

Hizmet movement discussed in heart of African Union

30 May 2012 / KAMİL ERGİN , ADDIS ABABA An international symposium on the Hizmet movement (aka Gulen movement), which includes followers of Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen’s principles, and the concept of dialogue, held in Ethiopia last week, brought together a large number of academics and top state officials from close to 40 countries to […]

Turks in US Ditto: Dialogue

The interfaith dialogue symposium organized by the Niagara Foundation, a Turkish community foundation in the United States, began on Thursday. The Chicago Interfaith Gathering sponsored by several American academic institutions and non-governmental organizations met at the Chicago Cultural Center.

Law firms press charges against Gülen in favor of al-Qaeda-linked group

Two law firms have filed a complaint against US-based Turkish Islamic scholar for allegedly orchestrating a conspiracy against a radical Turkish group that is believed to have links to Al-Qaeda.

As I researched the Gulen schools in Germany, I experienced beyond what I had expected

Dr. Jochen Thies’ new book focuses on Gulen-inspired Schools in Germany. Dr. Jochen Thies introduced the book he wrote about the schools opened in Germany by Turkish entrepreneurs: “We Are a Part of This Society-A Look at the Education Initiatives of the Gulen Movement”. Dr. Gunther Mulack, Director of the German Orient Institute, who was also […]

Fethullah Gulen’s Message of condolence for Muhammad Ali

I learned with grief the passing of Mr. Muhammad Ali, an individual who was dear to hundreds of millions of people around the world for his achievements in sports, strength of conviction, amicable personality and philanthropy.

Erdogan plotted Turkey purge before coup, say Brussels spies

The European intelligence contradicts the Turkish government’s claim that exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen was behind the plot to overthrow the Turkish government. Ankara is seeking Mr Gulen’s extradition from the US. The huge wave of arrests was already previously prepared.

Latest News

Fethullah Gulen – man of education, peace and dialogue – passes away

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

In Case You Missed It

How hateful discourse manipulates our perception

Professor: Carrying out service, Hizmet seeks peaceful coexistence; accusations are manipulative and absurd

Turkish man in Netherlands sentenced for threatening Erdogan critic

5-months pregnant woman detained as police fail to locate husband

Portrait of an Anatolian Muslim with no schooling*

Is the Gulen Movement an alternative to the state?

Earthquakes strengthen Taiwan, Turkey friendship

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News