FETO suspect deported from Myanmar arrives in Turkey

By Sertac Bulur

ANKARA

A Turkish school official, who was deported from Myanmar over his alleged ties to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), has arrived in Istanbul, a police source said Saturday.

Speaking on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media, the source said Muhammet Furkan Sokmen was a senior member of FETO, which Ankara has accused of orchestrating last July’s coup attempt in Turkey which martyred 250 people and injured nearly 2,200.

The source added that the so-called "Myanmar imam" -- a term the group uses to describe a senior member responsible for a specific branch of the terror network -- was a director at the Horizon International Schools, and a partner of the Mediterranean International Education Services Co. in Myanmar both linked to the FETO.

Sokmen was deported from Myanmar on Wednesday after the Turkish government canceled his and his family’s passports.

Upon his arrival at Istanbul's Ataturk International Airport on Saturday, Sokmen was taken to the police headquarters for questioning, the source said, adding the suspect would later be referred to a court of justice.

Turkey has asked countries to close FETO-linked schools, colleges, and businesses following the attempted coup that left 250 people dead.

Earlier this month Malaysia deported three Turkish nationals wanted by Ankara over alleged ties to FETO.

The group, led by U.S.-based Fetullah Gulen, has a large network of overseas educational and commercial interests.