TURKEY: ERDOGAN TO ASK OBAMA TO EXPEL IMAM GULEN

Ankara, 11 Dzulqa’dah 1435/6 September 2014 (MINA) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan means to ask the US to expel imam Fetullah Gulen, a former ally and today a rival who has been living in Pennsylvania for years, according to Ankara press reports.

During the plane ride to Wales, where he is attending a NATO summit, Erdogan told reporters that Washington should ”either expel him or hand him over to us”.

According to Hurriyet online, the Turkish head of State means to discuss the issue with US President Barack Obama with whom he has a bilateral meeting on Friday, ANSAmed quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

According to local press reports, Erdogan, who served as premier until August 28, has already unsuccessfully asked the US to expel Gulen.

After a corruption scandal became public last December, involving dozens connected to the government, the then-premier accused Gulen of being behind probes carried out by anti-corruption magistrates in an attempt to make his cabinet fall.

Thousands of police officials and hundreds of magistrates, including those in charge of the investigation, have been sacked and all those implicated have been released from prison. The investigations have halted. Erdogan has repeatedly claimed that Gulen’s Hizmet brotherhood has infiltrated institutions, setting up a “parallel state”.(T/P009/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)