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Turkey moving towards dictatorship, says exiled preacher Gulen Turkey moving towards dictatorship, says exiled preacher Gülen
(about 7 hours later)
The reclusive cleric accused by Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan of orchestrating a failed coup has demanded that the United States resist demands for his extradition from Pennsylvania. The reclusive cleric accused by Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of orchestrating a failed coup has demanded that the US resist demands for his extradition from Pennsylvania.
“Turkey’s president is blackmailing the United States,” preacher Fethullah Gulen wrote in a New York Times opinion piece on Tuesday. “Turkey’s president is blackmailing the United States,” preacher Fethullah Gülen wrote in a New York Times opinion piece on Tuesday.
“His goal: to ensure my extradition, despite a lack of credible evidence and virtually no prospect for a fair trial. The temptation to give Mr Erdogan whatever he wants is understandable. But the United States must resist it.” “His goal: to ensure my extradition, despite a lack of credible evidence and virtually no prospect for a fair trial. The temptation to give Mr Erdoğan whatever he wants is understandable. But the United States must resist it.”
Related: Fethullah Gülen: alleged coup mastermind – and friendly neighborRelated: Fethullah Gülen: alleged coup mastermind – and friendly neighbor
Gulen has lived in Pennsylvania in voluntary exile since 1999. He is spiritual leader of the Hizmet movement, which promotes moderate Islam but which Erdogan has dubbed a terrorist group. Gülen has lived in Pennsylvania in voluntary exile since 1999. He is spiritual leader of the Hizmet movement, which promotes moderate Islam but which Erdoğan has called a terrorist group.
The Turkish president accused him of orchestrating the July 15 aborted coup, in which Ankara said more than 290 people were killed. The Turkish president accused Gülen of orchestrating the 15 July aborted coup, in which Ankara said more than 290 people were killed.
A subsequent crackdown has seen more than 13,000 people detained and tens of thousands more sacked from their jobs in the civil service, schools and universities.A subsequent crackdown has seen more than 13,000 people detained and tens of thousands more sacked from their jobs in the civil service, schools and universities.
Gulen, who lives on the edge of the scenic Poconos area, denies having anything to do with the failed coup and accused Erdogan’s government of shifting towards “a dictatorship” that was “polarizing the population” and “fueling the fanatics.” Gülen, who lives on the edge of the scenic Poconos area, denies having anything to do with the failed coup and accused Erdoğan’s government of shifting towards “a dictatorship” that was “polarising the population” and “fuelling the fanatics”.
“The United States must not accommodate an autocrat who is turning a failed putsch into a slow-motion coup of his own against constitutional government,” Gulen wrote. “The United States must not accommodate an autocrat who is turning a failed putsch into a slow-motion coup of his own against constitutional government,” Gülen wrote.
Related: 'We see him as one of us': why many Turks still back authoritarian Erdoğan The US government has asked for firm evidence in reply to Ankara’s request to extradite Gülen.
The US government has asked for firm evidence in reply to Ankara’s request to extradite Gulen.
Last week, state-run media reported that Turkey had cut his modest state pension and cancelled his social security rights.Last week, state-run media reported that Turkey had cut his modest state pension and cancelled his social security rights.