Turkish cleric suspected of masterminding coup may be about to flee US

Ankara has intelligence that cleric Fethulla Gulen, suspected mastermind of the coup in Türkiye, is about to flee the US.

Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen. Photo: Ya Libnan.

Haberturk TV quoted Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag today as saying that Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who is living in exile in the US, could flee to Australia, Mexico, Canada, South Africa or Egypt.

Ankara believes Gulen was behind the failed coup in Türkiye on the night of July 15. The cleric denied any involvement in the incident.

Egyptian Prime Minister Sherif Ismail said Cairo had not received a request for political asylum from Gulen and would study it if it did, according to Egyptian news agency MENA.

More than 200 people were killed and about 1,400 injured in violence on the night of July 15, when a group of soldiers operating tanks, attack helicopters and fighter jets attempted a failed coup. The Turkish government announced that it had taken full control of the situation.

Tensions remain high in Turkey as authorities purge tens of thousands of suspected coup supporters from state institutions and the military. Ankara announced today that it had fired 88 employees from the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

According to VNE