Gulen would have returned to Turkey on coup's success

ANKARA (AA) – The U.S.-based preacher Fetullah Gulen, who is accused by the Turkish government of being the mastermind of the July 15 failed coup, would have returned to Turkey had the attempt been successful, justice minister said Thursday.

Turkey went through a deadly coup attempt on July 15 when rogue elements of the military tried to overthrow the country's democratically-elected government.

In remarks made during a live broadcast on Turkey’s Haberturk television channel, Bekir Bozdag said: "In my opinion, [Fetullah Gulen] would have come [to Turkey]. Because Fetullah Gulen -- who staged the coup -- had been preparing for this [attempt] for the last 40 years."

He compared Gulen to Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini, the leader of the 1979 Iranian revolution who spent several years in exile, saying Gulen would have returned to Turkey if the coup had been successful.

"[If the coup had been a success] in my opinion, not only the constitution would have been set aside in Turkey but also the regime would have been changed."

Turkey deems Gulen and his so-called parallel state responsible for the coup attempt, which martyred at least 246 people and injured more than 2,100 others, and calls for the preacher's extradition to Turkey to face trial.