Türkiye's coup was a 'staged act' by the Erdogan government?

Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen, the cleric accused by the Turkish government of participating in the coup plot, said the recent coup could have been organized by the government with the aim of targeting him.

Photo illustration. AP.

In an interview with a small group of journalists on July 16, Mr. Gulen denied all accusations against him.

"I don't think the world believes the accusations of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. It is possible that what just happened was staged as a coup, so that it can be used for further accusations against Gulenists," the Guardian quoted the preacher as saying.

When asked by Guardian journalists whether he would like to return to his homeland, assuming the coup succeeded, Gulen replied in the affirmative.

"I miss my homeland very much. But there is one important factor - Freedom. I am here away from the political problems in Türkiye, I live with my freedom," Mr. Gulen explained.

According to Sputnik