Azernews.Az

By Gunay Hasanova

A delegation of the U.S. Department of Justice will visit Turkey on August 22 to discuss Fethullah Gulen’s extradition, Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said on August 12, Sabah Newspaper reported.

“The U.S. should not support Fethullah Gulen, who is the head of a terrorist organization,” said Bozdag.

The minister added that the U.S. shouldn’t sacrifice its relations with Turkey for sake of Gulen.

An Istanbul court ordered on August 4 to arrest Fethullah Gulen, who is accused of organizing the military coup attempt in Turkey.

The July 15 coup attempt occurred when rogue elements in the Turkish military tried to overthrow the country's democratically elected government.

Turkey's government has repeatedly said the deadly plot, which martyred at least 246 people and injured more than 2,000 others, was organized by followers of U.S.-based preacher Fetullah Gulen.

Gulen is also accused of a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration into Turkish state and government establishments, particularly the military, police, and judiciary, forming what is commonly known as the "parallel state".

The General Staff of Turkish Armed Forces has said that 8,651 servicemen of the armed forces participated in the military coup attempt in the country. The rebels used 35 planes, 37 helicopters, 246 tanks and three vessels during the military coup attempt in Turkey.

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