Stay course in Gulen case

 The Turkish government alleges that Fethullah Gülen, who lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania, orchestrated the military coup attempt in July. Photograph: Selahattin Sevi/AFP/Getty Images
The Turkish government alleges that Fethullah Gülen, who lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania, orchestrated the military coup attempt in July. Photograph: Selahattin Sevi/AFP/Getty Images


Date posted: September 3, 2016

Ever since the failed July 15 coup attempt against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, his government has applied all of the pressure it can muster to extradite exiled cleric Fetullah Gulen.

Turkey contends that Imam Gulen, who lives in Saylorsburg, Monroe County, prompted his followers in Turkey to launch the coup.

So far the Obama administration rightly has resisted Turkey’s pressure, insisting that any extradition effort must be rooted in the American rule of law. Unfortunately, that standard becomes more distinct, by the day, from the authoritarian rule that Mr. Erdogan has accelerated in Turkey since the coup attempt.

Extradition is a multi-layered legal process in the United States, requiring actual evidence rather than the mere allegations offered so far by Mr. Erdogan’s government.

Those layers, in diplomatic cases such as this, include extensive vetting by the State Department to determine that a returned suspect will receive fair legal treatment and that meeting another government’s request is in the best interest of the United States.

Mr. Erdogan railed against the administration last week even as U.S. and Turkish forces conducted highly coordinated and effective joint military operations against the Islamic State group in Syria. Those operations demonstrated the true underlying interests of both countries, which Mr. Erdogan would be a fool to sacrifice for the sake of his ongoing internal purge. The administration is right on the extradition matter and should stay the course.

Source: The Times-Tribune , August 29, 2016


Related News

Gulen movement’s three pillars

The book of Mehmet Gundem “The Necessary Man” which is about the life of Turkish Jew Ishak Alaton has interesting details. According to Alaton, the accomplishment of the Gulen movement is based on three pillars: Gulen went beyond ordinary First, Mr. Gulen thinks outside the box. He broke taboos in Turkey and he brought together […]

GYV says Gülen did not send letter to Erdoğan

“In those days [of the corruption debate], it was conveyed to us that President Abdullah Gül, having held meetings with various groups in the name of peace for the nation and to prevent debates from escalating further, wished to send an envoy to Gülen to transmit his thoughts as well as to learn Gülen’s considerations,” Şimşek explained.

Fethullah Gulen: Muslims, we have to critically review our understanding of Islam

Words fall short to truly express my deep sadness and revolt in the face of the carnage perpetrated by terrorist groups such as the so-called ISIS. I share a profound frustration with a billion and a half Muslims around the world at the fact that such groups commit terror while dressing up their perverted ideologies as religion.

Turkey to Release Tens of Thousands of Prisoners to Make Room for Coup Suspects

Turkey said on Wednesday that it would empty its prisons of tens of thousands of criminals to make room for the wave of journalists, teachers, lawyers and judges rounded up in connection with last month’s failed coup.

Fethullah Gulen Issues Strong Condemnation of ISIS

As a practicing Muslim deeply influenced by tenets of my faith, I strongly condemn the brutal atrocities of the ISIS terrorist group. Their actions are a disgrace to the faith they proclaim and are crimes against humanity. Religion provides a foundation upon which to establish peace, human rights, freedoms and the rule of law. Any interpretations to the contrary, including the abuse of religion to fuel conflicts, are simply wrong and deceitful.

Nigeria’s House of Representatives wants Turkey to know that Nigerian lives matter

Nigerian students in Turkey say that the Turkish government has declared a war on them and that they feel targeted, therefore they stay in hiding for fear of being arrested or deported. “We are scared of leaving our rooms for fear of being arrested and charged with terrorism, or deported. There is a man-hunt for Nigerian students in Turkey,” a student told The Cable.

Latest News

Erdogan’s Failed Crusade: The World Rejects His War on Hizmet

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?

In Case You Missed It

65-year-old grandmother looking after twin babies as mother, father in jail for 5 months

HAPPENED AGAIN: Police detain woman who just gave birth at Mersin City Hospital

Former US envoys to Ankara say Erdoğan doing great harm to democracy

People overwhelmingly support democracy as answer to Kurdish issue

ABA urges Obama to protest Turkey’s suppression of free speech

Turkish firm offers to set up schools in Sindh, Pakistan

Skies shudder at an orphan’s tear

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News