Turkey points out CIA's 'more evidence' on Gulen

ANKARA (AA) – Turkey’s justice minister has said the American spy agency CIA has more evidence than Turkey about Fetullah Gulen’s involvement in the July 15 deadly coup attempt.

In remarks made during his address to members of the judiciary at an event in Ankara, Bekir Bozdag said the U.S.' denial about being aware of head of Fetullah Terrorist Organization’s involvement in the deadly putsch "ridicules the minds of people across the world and in Turkey."

Gulen has been living under self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania in the U.S. since 1999.

The minister said the spy agency was aware of even of Gulen’s heartbeat. "CIA knows Gulen’s heartbeat, how often he breathes [and] who enters and leaves [his Pennsylvania mansion]," Bozdag said.

"I am certain the CIA has more evidence than Turkey of Fetullah Gulen instigating [and] managing the coup attempt," Bozdag added.

In 1979, the U.S. and Turkey signed a treaty in Ankara entitled "The Return of Guilty and Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters".

Article 9 of the treaty said: "After the signing parties have received the information and documents relating to the extradition request, they must take all necessary measures, including searching the wanted person."

According to article 10 of the treaty, in urgent cases, before any of the signing parties request the prompt return of a person, they can also request the temporary arrest or detention of the wanted person.

This means Turkey has the right to request the arrest of Gulen and failure by the U.S. authorities to do so could be a violation of the treaty.

Turkey's government has repeatedly requested Gulen's extradition, sending four dossiers to Washington to prove his involvement in the July 15 coup attempt, which left 240 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Described as a terror cult, Gulen's Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) is accused of leading a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary, forming what is commonly known as "the parallel state".

Bozdag added that several members of Turkey’s top judicial board, HSYK, and public prosecutors were carrying guns at a crisis center to suppress the violent putsch on the night of the deadly Juy 15 coup attempt.

"Justice [and law] stood up against the coup [plotters], tanks, helicopters and automatic weapons. This is an extremely important and historic event," Bozdag added.

"Everyone came [to the crisis center] ready to die. Be certain of that."