16 July 2018•Update: 16 July 2018
By Safvan Allahverdi
WASHINGTON
A leading Turkish-American non-governmental organization has run an advertisement in a major U.S. daily, warning Americans about the threats the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) poses to the country.
In the full-page advertisement, Turkish-American National Steering Committee (TASC) recalled the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, orchestrated by FETO terror group, and urged the U.S. to extradite its leader Fetullah Gulen to Turkey.
FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup attempt of July 15, 2016, which left 250 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.
Ankara also 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.
The TASC recalled that the coup plotters bombed highways, bridges and the Turkish counterparts of American Congress, the White House, Pentagon, FBI and the office of the directorate of national intelligence
According to TASC's advert, millions of Turkish citizens from all walks of life flowed into the streets and put their lives in danger to defend and protect Turkish democracy and the elected government.
Equating Gulen to Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman, who was sentenced to life in prison in the U.S. for plotting and inspiring his followers to bomb the World Trade Center in 1993, TASC said: “Each passing day that the United States delays the extradition of Fethullah Gülen to Turkey, the people of Turkey are denied justice from the horrors they suffered on July 15, 2016.”
Since the coup attempt, Turkey has sought Gulen's extradition from the U.S., and complained that the U.S. is not moving fast enough.
TASC's advertisement also highlighted FETO's involvement in criminal activities in the U.S., including immigration fraud, money laundering, blackmailing, forgery of documents, exploitation of the education system through charter schools, unfair labor practices and deceiving local and federal authorities.
"Today we remember and honor those who lost their lives and who were wounded two years ago and urge the United States to prosecute and extradite FETO leader Fetullah Gulen to Turkey without further delay," it added.
