Turkey: FETO members slapped with heavy jail terms

ANKARA 

A Turkish court on Thursday handed down aggravated life sentences to scores of convicts for their involvement in the defeated 2016 coup in Turkey, according to judicial sources.

In the capital Ankara, prosecutors had recommended 141 aggravated life sentences for 17 alleged members of the so-called “Peace at Home Council,” a sub-group of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 251 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.

Former Air Force Commander Gen. Akin Ozturk -- the key officer who plotted the coup from within the military -- Ahmet Ozcetin, Ali Osman Gurcan, Bilal Akyuz, Cemil Turhan, Erhan Caha, Firat Alakus, Hakan Evrim, Kubilay Selcuk, Mehmet Disli, Mehmet Partigoc, Omer Faruk Harmancik, Murat Kocyigit, Mustafa Baris Avialan, Orhan Yikilkan, Sinan Surer, Muhsin Kutsi Baris received 141 aggravated life sentences.

The prosecutors had also demanded 140 aggravated life sentences for Osman Kilic, 62 aggravated life sentences for Muzaffer Duzenli, 30 aggravated life sentences for Ozcan Karacan, 29 aggravated life sentences for Unsal Coskun, Mehmet Sahin and Halil Gul, and 11 aggravated life sentences for Ramazan Gozel.

Retired Maj. Gen. Ilhan Talu, Osman Kardal, Levent Turkkan and Ahmet Bican Kirkek got one aggravated life sentences each.

Speaking on the issue, Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul told reporters: "The Turkish judiciary has set a great example of justice."

Gul said the trials were carried out within the framework of justice and the Turkish constitution, which the coup plotters had attempted to overthrow.

"Nobody will be able to eliminate democracy and the national will in Turkey," he added.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar and Faruk Zorlu