Deputy PM: Parallel state a threat to democracy, Turkey

ANKARA

Deputy Prime Minister Yalcin Akdogan on Wednesday described the FETO/PDY organization -- or the ‘parallel state’ -- as a threat not only to Turkey’s government and the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party, but also to the state, democracy and judicial system.

Speaking before a meeting on the fight against the parallel state, Akdogan said the FETO/PDY organization had been infiltrating governmental structures since the 1970s.

"All our citizens, communities and groups and governmental institutions have been abused by this terrorist organization," Akdogan said.

"The organization targeted hundreds of people by illegally wiretapping; businessmen and media organizations by blackmailing; and the Turkish intelligence services and army by conspiracies," Akdogan added.

He said the main aim of the organization was to turn Turkey into a proxy state for foreign powers.

"The operational capability of the organization built up over years has been neutralized considerably," Akdogan said, adding: "The concealed power of this organization inside governmental institutions has yet to be expelled completely. It is significantly important to clear all the institutions of this power and heal the damage caused by acts by this terrorist organization."

Akdogan said most of the leading figures and members of this organization had already fled abroad.

The FETO/PYD group is headed by U.S.-based preacher Fetullah Gulen, and runs a network of schools and commercial enterprises in Turkey and abroad.

It is reported to be behind a December 2013 probe into senior Turkish government figures, including ex-ministers over allegations of corruption.

Gulen is also the main suspect in a December 2013 probe of mass wiretapping which targeted more than 7,000 people.

Since early 2014, investigations into the parallel state have seen hundreds of civil servants, including police and public prosecutors, arrested or reassigned.