Northern Cyprus to join clampdown on Gulenist groups

LEFKOSA, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

Turkey is cooperating with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) government to clamp down on groups linked to Fetullah Gulen, the U.S.-based preacher accused of being behind the July 15 coup bid, the Turkish ambassador said Monday.

Derya Kanbay, Turkey’s envoy in Lefkosa, told Anadolu Agency that the foiled coup was a “traitorous attack aiming to overthrow the government” by the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) that Gulen is said to lead.

He added: “We know that there are branches of that organization in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. We have been in cooperation with the government to eliminate them and to prohibit their activities.”

Since the attempted coup, Turkey has arrested around 16,000 suspected FETO supporters and dismissed tens of thousands more from their jobs.

TRNC also lists FETO as a terrorist group.

(Reporting by Murat Demirci ; Writing by Ayse Humeyra Atılgan)