Officials condemn EU report targeting Türkiye's fight against FETO

Similarly, Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunc said the report is a “disgrace to democracy”.

The assembly last week expressed concern about what it claimed was “Türkiye’s use of some transnational repression tools, particularly following the July 2016 coup attempt” and its pursuit of FETO members.

FETO orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, in Türkiye, in which 251 people were killed and 2,734 injured.

Türkiye accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state by infiltrating Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.

Despite Türkiye’s extradition requests and bilateral legal agreements, many FETO members still freely enjoy their lives in different countries around the world. In the aftermath of the July 15, 2016 coup attempt, Türkiye has sped up extradition processes for members of FETO abroad.

“These delusions, which are put forward under the guise of freedom, are not acceptable. On July 15, our nation taught the world a lesson in human rights and democracy with its struggle against coup plotters. Those who attempted the coup gave an account before an independent and impartial judiciary, and they continue to do so. Legal processes and extradition requests regarding those who fled abroad continue,” Tunc reminded.

He added that the British lawmaker supported terrorists that are against democracy and human rights instead of supporting freedom and democracy.

Moreover, Ömer Celik, the spokesperson for Türkiye’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), said on the same day that Ankara rejected the report promoting FETO’s theses and accusing Türkiye while he criticised the term used by the EU as “Gülen Movement,” underlining it is a terrorist group and not a movement.

“Trying to legitimise such a bloody terrorist organization as if it were still a civilian movement causes the PACE to become a propaganda ground for terrorist organizations,” Celik highlighted.