Turkey sends Korea 'terror' list in wake of coup bid

The Turkish government has asked the United States to extradite Fethullah Gulen, who is living in self-exile in the U.S., accusing him of organizing the failed coup. / Courtesy of Twitter

By Hong Dam-young

Turkey has issued a list of some 10 organizations in Korea it says are linked to suspected terrorist organizations allegedly involved in the recent military coup bid, Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday.

In the wake of the July 15 attempt, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been condemning coup leaders that he says are linked to what he calls the “Fethullah Gulen Terrorist Organization” (FETO). Erdogan has accused U.S.-based dissident Fethullah Gulen of masterminding the plot.

Turkey has been sending lists of FETO-linked organizations to other countries, demanding they be banned. It also has asked the U.S. to extradite Gulen, who has been living in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999. Gulen has denied any involvement in the coup and Washington said it would only extradite him if there is enough evidence.

Supporters of Turkey’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, protest in Istanbul’s Taksim Square, blaming the July 15 attempted coup on dissident Fethullah Gulen. One man is holding a picture of Erdogan. / Courtesy of Twitter

The Turkish government also sent the list of suspected terrorist organizations to other Islamic countries, such as Indonesia, asking the groups be shut down. But the list it delivered to Korea -- which contains educational and cultural institutions and private businesses -- did not come with a request for action.

“We are only keeping a close watch for now because Turkey didn’t file any request for action,” a ministry official said.

No countries other than Turkey have branded Gulen a terrorist.

The DPA news agency said Indonesia has declined Turkey’s request to close schools identified as among Gulen’s followers.