ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey’s state-run news agency says a court in Istanbul has convicted a former opposition party lawmaker of aiding a network led by U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, and sentenced him to more than four years in prison.
Anadolu Agency said Friday the court convicted ex-opposition Republican People’s Party legislator Eren Erdem of “knowingly and willingly aiding an armed terror organization.”
Turkey says Gulen was behind a 2016 failed coup and has branded his network as a terrorist organization. Gulen denies involvement in the coup attempt.
The ex-lawmaker is accused of supporting Gulen while he was editor of Karsi newspaper, which published voice recordings in 2013 that suggested widespread government corruption — allegations the government says were fabricated.
Erdem, who was arrested in June, is expected to appeal.
trump is desperately taking notes and trying to figure out how to get DHS to classify the democratic party as a terrorist organization.
TTW where a “coup attempt” looks more and more like a Reichstag Fire.
Gulen is a terrorist, who uses the millions he makes from running a network of charter schools to subvert the Turkish government. He should be deported to Turkey and face trial there.