Police Academy report proposes steps in fight on FETO

By Merve Aydogan

ANKARA

A new report recommends a series of steps to wage a more effective fight against the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind last year’s defeated coup attempt in Turkey.

The report, “A New Generation of Terrorism: An Analysis of FETO,” analyzes FETO's mindset, security, educational, and financial structure, and infiltration strategies, as well as government efforts against its judicial, political, and administrative presence.

To reach its conclusions, the Turkish Police Academy Directorate report consulted academics, government officials, and experts in the field.

Refuting the terror group's efforts to present itself as a "faith-based group'', the report says: "Looking at its 40-year history, we can see that FETO usually employs religious values while seeking to organize and legitimize itself; the organization attempts to paint itself as a religious congregation. But in reality, FETO is more of an esoteric modern cult".

The report also suggests three reasons behind FETO's involvement in schools both in Turkey, historically, and overseas: "Firstly, developing powerful human capital; secondly, establishing a certain level of legitimacy in Turkey and abroad; and thirdly, acquiring significant financial resources," it said.

Saying that the terror group has established its own trade network, the report states: "In order to diminish FETO’s influence, cutting off the organization’s access to financial resources is crucial. As long as the organization has financial resources, efforts to fight it will be in vain."

The report suggests establishing a dedicated center for coordinating efforts against FETO, by pooling information on the terror group. It adds that revealing FETO’s external ties is critical for these efforts.

It also proposes a security force specialized in fighting FETO, one well-versed in terrorism and its mentality and financial crimes, and with its own intelligence unit.

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 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.

FETO also has a considerable international presence, including private educational institutions that serve as a revenue stream for the terrorist group.