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Turkey Fears Gulen-Kurdistan Alliance | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Supporters of Erdogan demonstrate in the streets following the July 15 coup attempt/ Reuters


Ankara-While the repercussions of the coup attempt in Turkey are still effective, the General Security warned on Sunday that Fethullah Gulen’s organization, which is accused of standing behind the July 15 events, could spread chaos in the country through members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

A circular issued by the General Security’s directorate and distributed to the country’s 81 provinces said that members from the Fethullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), which has infiltrated the army, was planning to attack the Imrali Island Prison where PKK’s leader Abdullah Acalan is jailed for life since 1999.

The circular said that the PKK was planning to use airplanes and launch several attacks against the Kurdish People’s Democratic Party, which is represented in the Turkish Parliament by 58 deputies.

The directorate added that FETO also planned to incite Alawites and members of the PKK to clash with the other Turks who are currently staging demonstrations across the country.

Also, the circular called on all its branches to take the necessary measures to prevent chaos in the country, adding that FETO members might use the social media to implement their plans after their failed coup attempt.

Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that 13,000 people were arrested across the country, pending investigations.

Education Minister Ismet Yilmaz said that his ministry is planning to hire 20,000 new teachers to replace the thousands of people who were dismissed from the education sector in the last campaign against FETO.

The number of new teachers will replace the same number of state educators who have been dismissed.

Yilmaz said: “We have suspended the licenses of teachers who were dismissed. Therefore, we will appoint the same number of new teachers. We will not allow any students to suffer.”

Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said Washington knew that the July 15 coup attempt in Turkey was orchestrated by the Pennsylvania-based cleric, Gulen.

On Saturday, Turkish authorities detained Muhammed Sait Gulen, the nephew of Fethullah Gulen.

Sait Gulen was detained in the northeastern Turkish city of Erzurum and will be brought to the capital Ankara for questioning over accusations of being a member of the terrorist organization.

Security sources also said Gulen will be charged of leaking a test in 2010 to employ public servants.

Meanwhile, Ankara Mayor Melih Gokcek said Gulen uses genies to “enslave” people.

Speaking to CNN Turk on whether he truly believes Gulen was using genies to control such a large number of people, Gokcek said: “Yes, I believe in it. I have already tried and experienced this.”