Turkey FM: Ties Will Be Hurt If US Doesn’t Extradite Gulen

US Seeks 'Clear Evidence' Gulen Involved in Failed Coup

by Jason Ditz

In an interview today on Haberturk TV, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu warned bilateral relations with the United States would be seriously impacted if the US refuses demands to immediately extradite cleric Fethullah Gulen.

Gulen, who lives in exile in Pennsylvania, is a former ally of the Erdogan government who has been vilified since a falling out, and has been blamed for this month’s failed military coup. Gulen denies the allegation, and publicly criticized the coup effort.

Turkey reportedly filed “evidence” against Gulen with the US government last week as part of a request for extradition, though since then US officials have repeatedly pushed for “clear evidence” of Gulen’s involvement.

Turkish officials have been complaining about that since the coup happened, arguing the US could just send them Gulen with no questions asked if they really wanted to. So far, however, the indications are that the US is holding off on deciding on the extradition.

http://news.antiwar.com/2016/07/25/turkey-fm-ties-will-be-hurt-if-us-doesnt-extradite-gulen/