Nearly 600 FETÖ convicts get life terms in Turkey

Nearly 600 convicts linked to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) have been given life sentences across Turkey since the July 2016 defeated coup, according to data compiled by Anadolu Agency Friday.

FETÖ and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 250 people martyred and some 2,200 injured.

Turkey accuses FETÖ of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.

Since July 2016, Turkish courts have given verdicts in 106 cases out of 283 that were filed linked to the defeated coup.

Out of the 805 suspects charged, 592 were convicted and given life sentences as part of these 106 cases.

Among them were 22 former generals, 166 officers, 31 petty officers, a sergeant, 17 military students and four engineers who were given aggravated life sentences.

Six other former generals, 109 officers, 46 petty officers, 51 expert sergeants, 50 military students and five policemen were also given life imprisonment.

Also, 18 other convicts were sentenced to life imprisonment for being involved in the assassination of Sgt. Omer Halis Demir.

Out of these 106 cases, six were concluded in one year after the defeated coup. But after the court process was accelerated, 100 cases were concluded within the last eight months.

Moreover, 339 defendants were also sent to jail for terms ranging between one-year-and-two months and 20 years.

Turkish prosecutors were continuing to seek life terms for more suspects.

In Polatli district of Ankara, prosecutors were seeking life imprisonment for 264 defendants for being involved in the incidents at the 58th Artillery Regiment Command during the defeated coup.

In central Malatya province, life terms were also being sought for 65 defendants, including Adem Huduti, the 2nd army commander.

Life terms were also being sought for 12 out of the total 90 suspects said to be involved in the attempt to occupy Istanbul Governor’s Office during July 2016 coup bid.

On Jan. 5, the 2nd Criminal Court in its first-ever hearing in eastern Erzurum province sentenced two ex-army officers, Col. Murat Kocak and Maj. Murat Yilmaz to aggravated life sentences.

On Oct. 27, the 17th High Criminal Court in Ankara gave life sentences to 25 convicts, including former Coast Guard Cmdr. Hakan Ustem over incidents at a naval base in the Golcuk district of northwestern province of Kocaeli on the night of the defeated coup.

Also on Oct. 27, the 2nd High Criminal Court in southeastern Adiyaman province sentenced former Police Chief Fatih Nacar to aggravated life sentence. Nacar had been convicted of ordering people not to resist coup soldiers.

On Oct. 23, Ankara’s 14th High Criminal Court sentenced 13 suspects -- among them eight former soldiers and five civilians -- to aggravated life sentences for trying to cut the signal feed of Turkish satellite operator TURKSAT during the July 2016 defeated coup.

On Oct.18, the 2nd High Criminal Court in southwestern Mugla province sentenced two former Turkish naval officers to life sentences for violating the Constitution during last year's defeated coup.

Former Rear Adm. Namik Alper, FETÖ’s so-called “martial law commander” in Mugla, and former Col. Aytunc Kan were among the convicts who were accused of trying to overthrow Turkey’s constitutional order through violence as part of the coup bid.

On Oct. 16, the 24th High Criminal Court in Istanbul gave aggravated life sentences to three former soldiers. They were convicted of bringing some Air Force Academy students from Yalova to Istanbul to provide support for the coup soldiers during defeated coup.

On Oct.13, 11 suspects were given aggravated life sentences and four others were given life sentences by Ankara’s 17th High Criminal Court, over their role in incidents at the Electronic Communication and Information Systems School, and the Education Center of the Turkish Land Forces Command during coup bid.

On Oct. 12, the 24th High Criminal Court in Istanbul handed down aggravated life sentences to Zafer Kuloglu, a district deputy police chief, and Halil Ibrahim Alan, a superintendent.

On Oct. 6, Mugla’s 2nd High Criminal Court gave aggravated life sentences to 40 suspects, including former Brig. Gen. Gokhan Sahin Sonmezates, former Maj. Sukru Seymen, and former Master Sgt. Zekeriya Kuzu -- the so-called "base imam" of Cigli’s 2nd Main Jet Base Command in Aegean province of Izmir.

The suspects were accused of attempting to assassinate President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during the defeated coup.

On Oct. 4, Ankara’s 17th Criminal Court gave life sentences to five former soldiers, during a hearing on the kidnapping case of retired Gen. Kamil Basoglu, the former head of the Doctrine Command.

In southeastern Gaziantep province, nine former soldiers, including ex-Col. Turgut Celebi, were given aggravated life sentences on Sep. 7 by the 7th High Criminal Court over the incidents at the 106th Artillery Regiment Command during the defeated coup.

On June 9, the 2nd High Criminal Court in eastern Bitlis province gave three aggravated life sentences to each of the four convicts, including former Brig. Gen. Arif Settar Afsar -- the so-called “martial law commander” of FETO.