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US State Department Spokesperson, John Kirby has said they don’t consider the Gülen Movement which, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Justice and Development Party (AKP) declare as “terror organization” and People’s Protection Units (YPG), as terror organization.
The Gülen movement is a transnational religious and social movement led by Turkish Islamic scholar and preacher Fethullah Gülen. The group is currently accused of attempting to overthrow the democratically elected Turkish government through a judicial coup in December 2013. It is accused of engaging in illegal wiretapping, blackmail and issuing threats. Investigations into the group are continuing. |
According to CNN Türk’s report citing Doğan News Agency (DHA), Kirby in the press statement he held in the capital city of Washington replied to a journalist’s question that “Turkey officially has declared Gülen Movement as terror organization. Leader of this community live here in the US. What is the US’ stance against this movement, do you support it? Do you see it as a terror organization?”
Kirby stating the US doesn’t deem Gülen Movement as terror organization said, “Gülen Movement hasn’t been designated as a foreign terror organization. We’ve seen the news on this matter, you need to ask the Turkish government to have further information as to the matter”.
Kirby responding the journalist reminding him that Turkey sees the YPG as a terror organization and accuses the US of backing the YPG, said the following:
“It is up to Turkish officials what sort of stance Turkey will maintain. We don’t see them as terror organization”. (EKN/TK)
