Istanbul University academics face FETO charges

By Muhammed Enes Can, Murat Kaya and Yunus Ege

ISTANBUL (AA) - Dozens of Istanbul University academics accused of membership of a terrorist organization appeared in court Tuesday, a judicial official said.

The 33 are alleged to have been members of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), which is said to have instigated July’s coup plot. Ten were remanded in custody and the others were released pending trial.

According to an indictment prepared by Istanbul Public Prosecutor Mehmet Senay Baygin and submitted to the 14th High Criminal Court, 40 members of the prestigious university were FETO members, including Fatih Gursul, a former advisor to the leader of the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP).

He was arrested last month over alleged ties to FETO.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, said seven suspects named in the document remained at large. The prosecution has demanded up to 15 years imprisonment.

As in previous cases, many of the suspects are said to have used the ByLock smart phone messaging app linked to FETO.

Since the attempted coup hundreds of academics have been arrested on suspicion of ties to FETO, which Turkey accuses of a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.