Turkish Ambassador Warns Countries of Security Threat Where FETO Finds Refuge

Tazeen Akhtar

Embassy of Turkiye in Islamabad commemorated “Democracy and National Unity Day” on 15 July 2024. This year the theme of the day is  “Victory of the Nation”. This day is celebrated to pay homage to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives in thwarting a coup attempted by Fathullah Gulen Group FETO whom Turkiye declares terrorist organization.

Ambassador Dr. Mehmet Pacaci in his keynote address to the participants shed light on the events of the day and expressed his gratitude to the government of Pakistan for her continued support. Ambassador preyed for  Allah’s mercy upon the citizens who were martyred while defending democracy on the night of July 15, and  expressed his gratitude to the  veterans.

” Pakistan is remembered with appreciation for being among the first countries that took swift action against the organization’s affiliates in the aftermath of the treacherous coup attempt in our country. The Supreme Court of Pakistan declared FETO a proscribed organization with the verdict rendered on 28 December 2018. Türkiye and the Turkish people are grateful to brother Pakistan, Ambassador said.

Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Ahmed Naseem Warraich,
Director General, Syed Ali Asad Gillani,Envoys of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, TRNC and representatives of Turkish Airlines, Turkish Hilal e Ahmar , Yunis Emre Institute Lahore and other organizations, Turkish friends in Pakistani media were  also present.

Türkiye Celebrates 6th Anniversary of Thwarted Coup – Pakistan Reiterates Support Against FETO

Mr. Ahmed Naseem Warraich appreciated the resolve of the Turkish people to save the democracy and confront the coup attempt. He said we remember the sacrifices the Turkish nation rendered for their country on the fateful day. Pakistan will always stand by Turkiye. He preyed for the prosperity and development of Turkish nation.

Ambassador in his address said, “It has been eight years since the July 15 coup attempt orchestrated by members of the Fethullah Gulen Terrorist Organization (FETO) who had infiltrated our army, resulting the martyrdom of 251 of our citizens and the injury of over two thousand others.”

“FETO is not only a terrorist organization, but also an espionage organization with a “cult” character. FETO was established as a so-called “religious movement”. In the guise of promoting education and inter-religious dialogue, it managed to cover its malign intentions.
The well-planned and widespread infiltration by FETO members and converts into the army, law enforcement, judiciary and numerous government institutions was carried out for decades latently for a full-scale plot, of which the final phase was unleashed on July 15, 2016, Dr. Mehmet Pacaci noted.

Pakistan-Turkey Stand Strong Against Terrorism- PTICEF Notified as Terrorist Org

He added that the greatest credit for neutralizing the threat posed by FETO on the night of July 15 goes to the Turkish people, who demonstrated that they recognize no power over their own will and are ready to give their lives to protect their state and its democratic achievements.

“It was the night when the territorial integrity, demographical integrity and cultural integrity of Türkiye, in other words, in every sense, Türkiye itself was protected by its own citizens under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Thousands of civilians took to the streets to stop this heinous coup attempt, Ambassador continued.

Ambassador warned the countries where FETO finds refuge. He said, “Our country is resolutely fighting against FETO both domestically and internationally.In this context, we emphasize with concrete examples that FETO poses a security threat to other countries where it operates, aims to create political and economic spheres of influence, does not hesitate to violate the laws of the countries it is present in, and operates like a criminal and intelligence organization.”

Dr. Mehmet Pacaci said that it is now becoming internationally understood that FETO is not a social movement involved in education and charity as it tries to portray itself, but a dark and insidious terrorist organization with political and economic ambitions. As to International platforms.Our fight against FETO’s international network will continue uncompromisingly.

101st Anniversary of the Great Victory of Turkiye Celebrated in Islamabad

FETO has also been recognized as a terrorist organization by the OIC.FETO was declared as a terrorist organization by the Council of Foreign Ministers of the OIC held on 19 October 2016; and by on the 12th Conference of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC on 27 January 2017.

Ambassador reiterated the principle that terrorism has no language, religion, or race and emphasize once again the importance of solidarity and cooperation within the international community in the fight against FETO and all other terrorist organizations in all its form and manifestations that pose a threat to the safety of humanity.

He said, the night of July 15 showed us that the spirit of national unity from the Turkish War of Independence remains steadfast. Democracy and the Republic can only be achieved through a spirit of national unity.

Finally, the Ambassador gratefully remembered all  great statesmen, especially Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his comrades in arms, who dedicated their lives to fostering democratic awareness in Türkiye.He also extended  respects to  President of Turkiye, who on the night of July 15, called upon  people to resist the coup plotters with the same consciousness.

From Pakistani side, Mr. Khalid Temur Akram, head of an NGO also shared his comment on the topic. The pictures of the people’s struggle against the coup attempt were also screened in the event to refresh the memories of the participants. The guest stood silent for one minute in the honor of the martyrs.

FETO’s Back Bone Broken- Gulen’s Repatriation from USA Awaited -Ambassador Ihsan Mustafa-by Tazeen Akhtar