FETO leader's nephew sentenced to over 6 years in jail

By Muhammet Mutaf 

ERZURUM, Turkey

A criminal high court in eastern Erzurum province sentenced the nephew of the U.S.-based Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) leader to six years and three months in prison, according to a judicial source Wednesday. 

Huseyin Gulen, who was arrested four months after the July 15, 2016, defeated coup, was convicted on charges of using FETO’s encrypted messaging app ByLock and maintaining ties to the terrorist group. 

The ByLock mobile app was also allegedly used by FETO members during 2016 defeated coup.

Also, the same court sentenced the niece of the FETO leader to seven years and six months in prison, according to the same source Wednesday. 

Busra Gulen was convicted on charges of being a member of an armed terrorist organization. 

According to the Turkish government, FETO and its leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 250 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Ankara also 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.