Life sentences sought for 30 FETO suspects

By Murat Kaya and Muhammed Enes Can

ISTANBUL

The Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office in Istanbul has demanded three aggravated life sentences for each of the 30 former Zaman media group employees suspected of being linked to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO).

The suspects, who are former employees of the now shut Zaman newspaper, have been accused of attempting to overthrow the Turkish government and the country’s constitution.

The prosecutor's office also demanded an additional 15 years for each of the suspects on the charge of "being members of a terror organization".

Out of the 30 suspects, 21 have been remanded in custody.

According to the indictment prepared by prosecutor Ismet Bozkurt, former columnists Mumtazer Turkone, Sahin Alpay and Ali Bulac are among the suspects.

A court in Istanbul is now expected to decide the case within 15 days.

In the wake of the putsch attempt, tens of thousands of FETO suspects have been arrested, including many in the armed forces, police, judicial system, education and business sector.

According to Turkey’s government, terrorist group FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 2016 which left 249 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Ankara has also said FETO is behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.