Turkey seeks extradition of 84 Gulen supporters
November 21, 2018
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Tuesday he had handed US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and national security adviser John Bolton a list of 84 people who Ankara wants extradited.
The individuals are alleged to be followers of Fethullah Gulen. The Pennsylvania-based Islamic preacher, who has been living in self-imposed exile since 1999, is also on the list.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accuses Gulen of orchestrating an attempted coup in July 2016, and he has long urged the US to send him back to Turkey so that he can face charges. But Washington has refused those requests, and Gulen maintains he had nothing to do with the coup attempt.
Read more: US denies it will extradite Erdogan foe Fethullah Gulen to reduce heat on Saudis
Strained relations between the two NATO allies improved after Ankara released American pastor Andrew Brunson in October, but Turkey's Gulen extradition demands remain a point of tension.
Cavusoglu said he also used his meeting with US officials in Washington to broach Turkey's request for a permanent exemption from US sanctions relating to Iran. Earlier this month, the Trump administration reimposed sanctions on Tehran, including on countries and businesses that continue to do business with certain Iranian firms. Cavusoglu said a permanent waiver was necessary because Turkey could not cope without oil imports from its neighbor.
Read more: US sanctions on Iran raise concern in Turkey
After meeting Cavusoglu, Pompeo did not mention the extradition request, but said he welcomed the "positive momentum in our relationship … and urged reopening additional channels to address issues of mutual concern."
He also voiced concern about several US Consulate employees and a NASA scientist who remain jailed in Turkey.
Since the failed coup, Turkish authorities have arrested more than 70,000 people over their alleged ties to Gulen's movement.
nm/rt (AFP, AP)