‘Gulenist movement has escalated social tensions in Turkey’

The Gulenist movement is behind the failed coup attempt, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey’s Foreign Affairs Committee said in a statement, describing it as “the largest and the most organised terrorist attack that the country has ever seen”.

The bloody coup was perpetrated by the military-wing of an illegal organisation known in the country as the “Parallel State Organisation”, led by Fethullah Gülen, who has lived in Pennsylvania, USA, since 1998, the statement said.

“Together with the people, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Government of Turkey, all opposition parties, the police and the majority of the military have sternly resisted against the gravest and most organised terrorist attack in the history of modern Turkey.”

A “state of emergency” was declared in the country following the failed coup attempt, in which more than 250 people were killed and nearly 1,500 wounded, “in order to prevent a probable second terrorist coup attempt, and to ensure public safety, to protect democracy and maintain stability.” Thousands of people suspected of links to the parallel state network were also arrested or sacked.

“Gulenists have been eagerly organised within politics, judiciary, education, bureaucracy, media and business,” the press release emphasised, adding that the organisation has “escalated social tension in the recent history of Turkey” in the way of “assassinations, bloodsheds, attacks and mysterious killings.”

“Turkey will continue to fight against terrorism and all kinds of terrorist groups resolutely.”