Biden’s office refutes Turkish minister’s claim that US has proof Gülenists plotted coup

US Vice President Joe Biden watches as US President Barack Obama speaks during an event for the Council on Women and Girls in the East Room of the White House on January 22, 2014 in Washington, DC. AFP PHOTO/Mandel NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images
US Vice President Joe Biden watches as US President Barack Obama speaks during an event for the Council on Women and Girls in the East Room of the White House on January 22, 2014 in Washington, DC. AFP PHOTO/Mandel NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images


Date posted: September 26, 2016

US Vice President Joe Biden’s office refuted a claim made by Bekir Bozdağ, justice minister of Turkey, who said on Thursday night that Biden had confirmed that substantive information on the involvement of US-based Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen had been received by the US as part of an extradition request submitted by Ankara this month.

Washington-based Turkish journalist İlhan Tanır wrote in his blog on Friday that he inquired about Bozdağ’s claims through his sources in the White House and that Biden’s assistant denied that he had made such a statement to Bozdağ.

“On background, the vice president said that our legal experts are still reviewing on the extradition request and did not indicate there was concrete evidence,” Biden’s assistant told Tanır via email.

Quoting Bozdağ, Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency reported on Thursday that Biden admitted that Ankara had provided “concrete evidence” about Gülen being the mastermind of a coup attempt in Turkey on July 15. Bozdağ made his remarks as he answered reporters’ questions while accompanying President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on a visit to New York for the UN General Assembly.

The Justice and Development Party (AKP) government and Erdoğan put the blame on Gülen for masterminding the coup, repeatedly denied by Gülen in several interviews with international media. Despite the fact that Gülen’s extradition has been kept a hot topic in Turkish domestic politics by Erdoğan, the Washington administration has said on several occasions that it would extradite Gülen only if Turkey provides evidence, much to the frustration of Turkey’s AKP government.

US officials, including Vice President Biden, have several times said that it is the US courts that will decide on Gülen’s extradition if a case is filed against him with concrete evidence that shows his involvement in a crime.

In August State Department Deputy Spokesperson Mark Toner said during a press briefing that Turkey had formally requested the extradition of Gülen, but not on issues related to the recent coup attempt.

“We are now considering the merits of the request,” Toner said.

The AKP government and President Erdoğan have designated the Gülen movement a terrorist organization and have launched a widespread crackdown on suspected members since the failed coup.

Thousands of institutions, including charities, schools and business associations, have been shut down, over 100,000 state employees have been sacked, more than 40,000 people have been detained and nearly 27,000 arrested over links with the movement since July 15.

Source: Turkish Minute , September 23, 2016


Related News

The Peace Islands Institute of New Jersey Awards Recognize Excellence

The Peace Islands Institute of New Jersey held their annual awards dinner to recognize the accomplishments of 6 remarkable individuals in different walks of life.

Turkey Continues Its Witch Hunt Against Gülen Followers

The arrests and detentions took place more than 6 weeks after the Turkish military staged a failed coup. But people who had absolutely nothing to do with the coup, who are simply accused of sympathizing with Fethullah Gülen, were also arrested. In what’s becoming a repetitive story, a host of journalists, lawyers, teachers and civil servants were among those arrested by the authorities.

Turkey deports former EU official for alleged Gulen-ties

The Turkish authorities prevented a former EU official from entering its territory. Joost Lagendijk, a former EU parliament member and EU rapporteur, was deported from the Sabiha Airport in Istanbul on Sunday.

Soul searching inside the Gülen movement

The U.S. is also treading very carefully on the Gülen issue. The movement has been Turkey’s top lobbyist on Capitol Hill for a decade.

Totalitarian interference in individual sphere

The Prime Minister Erdoğanis talking about closing the prep schools in which students enroll to get additional education and be more successful on university entrance examinations.His whole argument to close these institutions is just a blur of some basic facts. Everyone knows that Erdoğan is taking these steps for a single purpose: He wants to punish the Gülen movement.

Graft probe in Turkey: Path and passengers

The problem is not to side with the Hizmet movement or the AK Party. No one objects to the fight against corruption. But it is not possible to argue that what has been happening is all about corruption right now. Tensions should not be escalated or provoked further. I believe that promoting reconciliation is the best option. If you ask whether or not it possible, I would say, “Yes, it is still possible.”

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

Fethullah Gulen Calls Crackdown ‘Dark Pages’ in History – Responses to World Affairs Council of Philadelphia

EU, US Have Little Leverage as Turkish Democracy Backslides

Turkish School Officially Opens in Rwanda

Ethiopian President receives Ethio-Turkish schools delegation

Profiled lawyer files criminal complaint against MİT, MGK

Exiled Turks Fleeing Erdogan Find New Lives in Greece

Muslim voices against ISIS – Rita Cosby discusses Fethullah Gulen’s stern stance

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News