FETO, PKK global threat for peace: Turkey’s top cleric

By Jeyhun Aliyev

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey’s top cleric said Tuesday that terrorist group PKK and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) are a global threat.

"It is one of the clearest truths revealed in history that no benefit will come to other nations from those who betray their own country and nation," said Ali Erbas, speaking at the 15th Islamic International Forum held in Berlin.

Erbas said that FETO and PKK are threats for the "Islamic world and world peace" and criticized the insensitive and patronizing approaches of some countries regarding the terrorist organizations.

Calling FETO a "religion exploiter", Erbas said the terror group attacks all human values.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup attempt of July 15, 2016, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured. Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.

Referring to the PKK terror group, Erbas said: "Members of this traitor organization, who brutally massacred civilians, women, children and even babies, find shelter in some countries."

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union -- has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.

He stressed that there are also "dirty interests" behind the terrorist organizations such as Daesh/ISIS, Boko Haram and the al-Qaeda affiliated al-Shabaab group.

Erbas noted that Europe has suffered great pain in the wars that were fought over religion, sects and ethnicity.

"This painful experience should not be lived anywhere in the world again."

The cleric said that there are people who support Islamophobia by backing terrorist organizations.

He said that regardless of where it comes from, the oppression, injustice and alienation must be confronted.

Erbas also urged the participants to discuss how they can fight those who violate the law, human rights, who deprave the earth, who support exploitation, anarchy and terror.