Turkey suspends 18 judges, prosecutors over FETO ties

By Aylin Dal

ANKARA (AA) – At least 18 judges and prosecutors were suspended over links to Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the 2016 defeated coup, Turkey’s top judiciary council said on Friday.

Turkey’s Council of Judges and Prosecutors’ 2nd Chamber said that the suspects were suspended until an inquiry about their links to FETO concluded.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Turkey 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.