Michael Pompeo’s statement
Metin Topuz was sentenced to eight years and nine months in prison on charges of helping the Fetullah Terrorist Organisation (FETO), the group behind a 2016 coup attempt in Turkey.
By TRT
A Turkish employee of the US consulate general in Istanbul was found guilty on Thursday of assisting an armed terrorist organisation.
An Istanbul Court sentenced Metin Topuz to eight years and nine months in prison on charges of helping the Fetullah Terrorist Organisation (FETO), the terror group behind a 2016 coup attempt in Turkey.
According to the indictment, Topuz had been accused of having contacts with Zekeriya Oz, a key FETO fugitive, as well as former police chiefs and soldiers affiliated with the terrorist group and helping them in their activities.
He was also accused of four other different crimes, such as attempting to topple the Turkish government and espionage, but was acquitted of these due to lack of evidence.
The court ruled for the continuation of his detention.
FETO and its US-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the July 15, 2016 defeated coup in Turkey, which left 251 people killed and nearly 2,200 injured.
Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.
State Department: Baseless charges
Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State said in a statement:
The United States is deeply troubled by the decision of a Turkish court today to convict U.S. Consulate General Istanbul employee Metin Topuz and hopes the conviction will swiftly be overturned.
For nearly three decades, Mr. Topuz worked tirelessly to promote law enforcement cooperation between the United States and Turkey, contributing to the safety and security of our two countries.
The baseless charges against Mr. Topuz misrepresent both the scope and nature of the important work undertaken by our local staff on behalf of the U.S. government and in the promotion of our bilateral relationship. U.S. officials observed every hearing in the trial of Mr. Topuz in Istanbul, and we have seen no credible evidence to support this decision. As a result, this conviction undermines confidence in Turkey’s institutions and the critical trust at the foundation of Turkish-American relations.
We reiterate our call on the Turkish government to resolve his case in a just manner.
