Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen accused President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of orchestrating Turkey’s July 15, 2016 coup attempt, saying in an interview with European media outlets that evidence had emerged supporting that claim.
Gülen made the remarks in a joint interview with Germany’s Die Zeit, Spain’s El País and the German news agency DPA.
He said Erdoğan used the coup attempt to consolidate power and launch mass dismissals and arrests across state institutions.
According to Gülen, the crackdown targeted “people he did not like.”
Asked why he had previously supported Erdoğan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP), Gülen pointed to Erdoğan’s earlier promises to prepare Turkey for European Union membership and strengthen human rights and democracy.
“Erdoğan hoped we would declare him the leader of all Muslims and work worldwide to achieve this,” Gülen said. “When that did not happen, he turned against us.”
Gülen also addressed the possibility of his extradition from the United States to Turkey.
“I will stay as long as I can,” he said. “Otherwise, I will leave.”
He also expressed gratitude to the United States for its hospitality.
Ankara blames the coup attempt on the Gülen movement, a transnational civic initiative inspired by Gülen, and designates the movement as a terrorist organization. The movement denies involvement in the coup attempt or any terrorist activity.
Gülen’s remarks added to the continuing dispute over responsibility for the coup attempt and the political use of the crackdown that followed.
The Turkish government has sought Gülen’s extradition from the United States, where he has lived for years, but Washington has said any extradition request must meet US legal standards.
