FETÖ members at headquarters
Who are the FETÖ members who fled abroad, and in which countries and cities do they live?
FETÖ members at headquarters
Following the July 15 coup attempt, thousands of people who were in the top management of the organization, played a role in planning the coup, or provided financial/media support to the organization, fled abroad. According to official statements (Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Justice), the two main centers where fugitive members of the organization are concentrated are the United States and Germany.
According to ministry data, it is estimated that approximately 23% of the fugitives are in Germany and 16% are in the USA. Some of these individuals have applied for asylum, while others are living with fake identities or residence permits.
The most well-known FETÖ fugitives who fled abroad, along with their current locations and the latest identified cities/states, are as follows:
- United States of America (USA)
A large portion of the organization’s top executives, who handle both finance and lobbying activities, are located in the USA.
Cevdet Türkyolu: The organization’s “secret keeper” and long-time general secretary/private secretary. He owns luxury properties in Pennsylvania (Saylorsburg) and New Jersey.
Adil Öksüz: The most critical civilian leader in the military wing of the July 15 coup attempt (Air Force imam). Although there are claims that he was seen in Germany after fleeing Turkey, intelligence reports strongly suggest that he has recently been hiding in the USA.
Kemal Batmaz: One of the civilian imams at Akıncı Air Base. Like his other associates who were not caught while trying to flee to the USA, his associates are still active in the USA.
Hakan Şükür: Former football player and member of parliament. He is wanted on charges of membership in and financing the organization. Images have shown him living a luxurious life in the San Francisco and Palo Alto areas of California, running a cafe and working as a taxi driver.
Emrullah (Emre) Uslu: Former police chief and media hitman for the organization. He is known to be a teacher at a university in Virginia (Fairfax) and to live there.
Former Prosecutor Sadrettin Sarıkaya, who summoned Hakan Fidan for questioning: Prosecutor of the February 7th MIT crisis. He has been seen in Texas.
Aydoğan Vatandaş: Identified as one of the managers of “Fuat Avni,” one of the organization’s black propaganda accounts on social media. He lives in New Jersey.
- Germany
It is the country where fugitive FETÖ members in Europe, especially former military personnel, judicial officials, and police chiefs, have sought refuge the most. Germany generally rejects extradition requests by considering them under the scope of “political asylum.”
Zekeriya Öz: Former chief prosecutor of fabricated cases such as Ergenekon. He fled abroad before the coup attempt. He was pictured living in luxury in the German cities of Frankfurt and Cologne, and is known to still be under protection in that country. Celal Kara: Former prosecutor (one of the prosecutors in the 17-25 December process). He fled to Georgia and then to Germany with Zekeriya Öz. Mehmet Ali Şengül: He was one of the members of the organization’s so-called “consultation committee.” He died in the city where he was receiving treatment in Germany. İlhami Polat: Former staff colonel (one of the critical figures at the Ankara General Staff Headquarters on the night of the coup attempt). He is among the soldiers who fled to Germany and requested asylum.
- United Kingdom (England)
The organization’s financiers and business structure, in particular, preferred England.
Hamdi Akın İpek: Former chairman of the board of directors of Koza İpek Holding. He is one of the biggest names in the organization’s financial arm. He lives in a luxurious mansion in London, the capital of England. Turkey’s extradition request was rejected by British courts. Tarık Toros: Former editor-in-chief of Bugün TV, the organization’s now-closed media outlet. He lives in London.
- Sweden and Other European Countries
Bülent Keneş: Editor-in-chief of the now-closed Zaman newspaper. He lives in Sweden (Stockholm). Turkey officially requested his extradition during Sweden’s NATO membership process, but the Swedish Supreme Court halted the extradition.
Abdullah Bozkurt: The person who manages the organization’s English-language propaganda site, “Nordic Monitor.” He lives in Sweden.
Levent Kenez: Former editor-in-chief of Meydan newspaper. He also continues his activities in Sweden.
Harun Tokak: The organization’s so-called “Jerusalem Imam” and head of the Israel structure. He lives in Belgium (Brussels).
The Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Turkey has issued Red Notices through Interpol for all of these individuals and officially requested their extradition from the countries where they reside; however, the relevant countries are not fulfilling these requests, citing legal and political reasons.
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