Turkish prosecutor files FETO-linked academic charges

By Muhammed Enes Can

ISTANBUL (AA) – A Turkish prosecutor on Wednesday filed charges against 54 Istanbul University academics for allegedly being linked to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), a network accused of instigating Turkey's July 15 military coup plot.

In the indictment prepared by Istanbul Public Prosecutor Mehmet Senay Baygin and submitted to Istanbul’s 14th High Criminal Court, the suspects are charged with “establishing or leading an armed terror group” and “being members of a terrorist organization”.

The prosecutor’s office sought different terms of imprisonment, ranging to over 22 years in some cases.

Fourteen suspects, including professors and assistant professors, were detained in a recent police raid at Istanbul University, accused of being members of FETO’s academic network.

Wednesday’s indictment states that some of the suspects used the smartphone application ByLock, which the authorities believe was linked to the July 15 coup attempt.

The indictment added that police found $1 bills in some suspects’ houses and offices during the raid.

It is claimed some academics had these banknotes to show their loyalty to Fetullah Gulen, U.S.-based leader of the terror group.

The court will decide within 15 days whether to approve the indictment.

ByLock is believed to have been cracked by Turkish security agencies before the coup, prompting the plotters to switch to the WhatsApp messaging service but not before tens of thousands of FETO suspects had been identified.

Turkey accuses FETO of a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.