Turkey: Over 30 FETO terrorists get heavy jail terms

By Filiz Kinik and Ali Cevahir Akturk

ISTANBUL (AA) - A total of 31 people were given heavy jail terms on Friday for their links to Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the July 2016 defeated coup in Turkey, according to a judiciary source.

According to the source, Istanbul’s 27th Heavy Penal Court handed down aggravated life sentences to 16 people including Hamza Mermer, Ramazan Argunsah, Duran Keskin, Ufuk Kenan Konuk, Erdogan Celik, Gunay Kaya, Birhan Sahan, Mustafa Karademir, Isa Gozetici, Nurullah Yildirim, Mustafa Kemal Kutahya, Emrah Altunkalem, Yavuz Sarioglu, Ali Kazanpinar, Asim Ozdemir, and Nuh Cetiner.

The source said 15 others including Abdullah Badur, Ahmet Ergun, Aykut Keklik, Ener Bilecek, Eshed Oksun, Hasem Ulker, Ibrahim Gor, Mehmet Uysal, Mucahit Ozcan, Mujdat Bozkaya, Omur Mazlum, Sinan Ertepe, Sinan Mise, Yasin Mapavrelioglu and Yener Dertli were convicted with life sentences by the Istanbul court.

The FETO terrorists attempted to occupy TRT's Harbiye building on the day of failed coup attempt in July 15 2016 that led to killing of three civilians and wounding 50 others.

The terrorists also tried to take control of Taksim Square, where 36 civilians were injured.

They were all charged with attempting to overthrow the constitutional order.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 250 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Ankara 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.