Turkey’s Request to Extradite Gulen is not Related to Coup Attempt: U.S. Department of State

The US rejects U.S. based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen’s participation in the organization of military coup attempt in Turkey on July 15, RIA Novosti reports.

US State Department’s Deputy Spokesperson Mark Toner said Turkey’s request to extradite Fethullah Gulen is not related to the coup attempt. “That request is not related to the coup attempt,” he said.

The Turkish leadership blames Gulen for organizing and participating in the military coup attempt in Turkey. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim earlier said they have sent a “package of documents” which prove Gulen’s participation in the coup attempt to the US President and asked to extradite Gulen to Turkey.

According to Anadolu news agency, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that sooner or later the US will have to make a choice between Ankara and Fethullah Gulen.

The Court of Istanbul has made a decision to arrest Gulen.