Turkish prosecutor ties Gulen to editor's 2007 murder

By Muhammed Enes Can and Murat Kaya

ISTANBUL

Prosecutors on Monday indicted Fetullah Gulen over the 2007 killing of a leading journalist in the latest charges to be levelled against the alleged organizer of last July’s coup attempt.

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has asked for a life sentence for Gulen, a judicial official said on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media.

Gulen, who has lived in the U.S. since 1999, has previously been charged over forming an armed terrorist organization as well as with orchestrating the July 15 attempted coup in Turkey that martyred 249 people.

It is the third indictment prepared in relation to the shooting of Hrant Dink, editor-in-chief of the Armenian-Turkish newspaper Agos. He was killed outside his office on Jan. 19, 2007, in a case that has stirred intrigue and conspiracy theories.

Ogun Samast, who was aged 17 at the time of the killing, is the only person to be jailed for the murder but speculation at the involvement of others has persisted.

Monday’s indictment is the first time the Fetullah Terrorist Organization has been officially tied to the case.

Gulen, former prosecutor Zekeriya Oz, the former editor-in-chief of the Gulenist Zaman newspaper Ekrem Dumanli as well as journalists Adem Yavuz Arslan, Faruk Mercan and Ercan Gun are charged with “intentional killing” and “attempting to remove the constitutional order”.

The indictment has been sent to Istanbul’s 14th High Criminal Court, which is expected to approve or reject it within 15 days.