Turkey Issues Arrest Warrant for Erdogan Critic Gulen

MOSCOW, December 20 (Sputnik) – A criminal court in Istanbul, Turkey, issued an arrest warrant for Fethullah Gulen, an influential Islamic cleric, who is residing in the US, AFP reports.

The warrant was issued on charges that Gulen "established an illegal organization with a hierarchical structure that is separate from the state's own structure," Anatolia news agency reported. The cleric allegedly aimed at seizing "influential posts that govern Turkey's social, economic, military and administrative mechanisms," as quoted by the news agency.

"[S]ufficient tangible evidence showing that Gülen committed a crime was collected during the investigation," said Hasan Yilmaz, an Istanbul public prosecutor, as quoted by the Guardian. If found guilty, Gulen could receive a prison sentence of up to 15 years.

Turkish authorities could request Gulen’s extradition, however, many doubt that the United States will comply with the request.

Gulen, once Erdogan’s ally, has since become one of the main critics of the Turkish president. Their relations deteriorated last December, following a corruption scandal, involving the government, including Erdogan and his closest associates. The then prime minister repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, saying Gulen was behind the allegations.

Gulen has many followers in Turkey and around the world through the Hizmet group.

Last Sunday, Turkish authorities raided several media outlets, arresting 27 people on charges of "forgery, fabricating evidence and forming a crime syndicate to overtake the sovereignty of the state," according to Anatolia. Most of the detained journalists are considered to be Gulen supporters.

Turkey’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Mevlut Cavusoglu claimed that the journalists were arrested for their alleged involvement in a "crime syndicate". Some of them have since been released.