Turkey vows not to extradite suspects to countries harboring Gulenists

ANKARA, May 30 (Xinhua) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday warned foreign countries that Turkey will not cooperate for extradition of suspects if they fail to return members of Gulenist Terror Group (FETO) which Ankara accuses for failed July 15 coup.

“I make a call on the world. If you don’t help us returning (them), you will not be able to get those (suspects) when you ask us,” Erdogan said at the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) parliamentary group meeting where he for the first time attended as the party chairman after a constitutional reform referendum.

Fethullah Gulen, a U.S.-based Turkish cleric, accused of orchestrating the coup bid on July 15. Ankara has been demanding extradition of him from the U.S. administration, but Washington has not taken any steps yet pointing at legal procedures.

Many alleged supporters of Gulen, have been seeking asylum in European countries as well.

Nearly 40 former Turkish military personnel in NATO, supposedly affiliated with the Gulen Movement, asked asylum from Germany and some were reportedly confirmed for initial procedure.

Some Gulen supporters reportedly have applied for asylum in Norway, Belgium, Netherlands and have been replied positively.