Fethullahist Terror Organization

Sonme 350 diplomats have been expelled from the Foreign Ministry since a July 2016 coup attempt due to links to the Fethullahist Terror Organization (FETÖ), the alleged mastermind of the putsch, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu has said.

Two commanders in the eastern province of Erzurum were sentenced to aggravated life sentences on Jan. 5 over the failed July 2016 coup attempt, marking the first conviction in the case, Doğan News Agency has reported.

The Doğan Group has filed a criminal complaint against daily Sabah after the newspaper targeted the group with fictitious "news" that "FETÖ and other terrorist organizations will drag the country into chaos in the direction of their plans." 

A request has also been filed to block access to links to the story regarding the Fethullahist Terror Organization (FETÖ).

Turkey is optimistic about improved ties with the United States under incoming President Donald Trump, Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmuş told the Hürriyet Daily News on Jan. 4, saying he hoped the new administration will extradite Fethullah Gülen and will stop allying with Syrian Kurdish groups. 

Turkey's state of emergency will be extended for another three months, the government said on Jan. 3.

Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmuş made the announcement following a cabinet meeting.  
    
Kurtulmuş told reporters that ministers decided the state of emergency would be extended as of Jan. 19 for 90 days, with the parliament's approval.        

The Turkish Parliament will vote this week to prolong the implementation of the state of emergency for another three months, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım has announced. 

"Our parliament will discuss and vote for the prolongation of state of emergency this week," Yıldırım told his parliamentary group on Jan. 3. 

We entered the New Year with the horrific massacre carried out in Istanbul's popular night club Reina. Savagery, cowardice, barbaric and cruel... This is where words fail. At least 39 innocent people have been brutally massacred only because they attended a New Year's celebration. May God rest their souls in peace. I share the pain of their loved ones.

The lawyer of arrested Turkish journalist Ahmet Şık said on Dec. 31 that his team will appeal against a court decision to arrest him.

The activities of 94 associations allegedly "threatening national security" and with links to terrorist organizations across 20 provinces have been terminated as a part of a decree law issued under Turkey's ongoing state of emergency, the Interior Ministry stated on Dec. 30.

An Istanbul court on Dec. 30 ordered the arrest of prominent journalist Ahmet Şık, one day after he was detained over several tweets and his articles for daily Cumhuriyet.

Earlier in the day, Şık had been referred to Çağlayan courthouse following his proceedings at the police headquarters.