Justice Minister Akın Gürlek said Thursday that civil society organizations must operate transparently and remain subject to legal oversight regarding an ongoing investigation into the Ahbap charity, while authorities continue a probe into alleged financial crimes involving several members of the organization.

Speaking at the Judicial Evaluation Meeting attended by chief public prosecutors and heads of judicial commissions from all 81 provinces, Gürlek emphasized that no organization operating on public trust is exempt from state oversight.

“Civil society cannot serve as a shield from legal scrutiny, arbitrary conduct or the management of public trust without accountability,” Gürlek said. “The spirit of solidarity cannot be abused. For nongovernmental organizations, transparency is not a matter of preference but a legal and moral obligation.”

The minister said the investigation into allegations concerning the use of donations collected through civil society activities demonstrates the state’s commitment to protecting public trust. He added that organizations working alongside the government during disasters and humanitarian crises remain valuable partners, but stressed that every donation must be fully accountable.

Gürlek also noted judicial authorities would conduct the investigation impartially and on the basis of evidence, rejecting attempts to influence the courts through social media campaigns or political pressure.

His remarks came days after prosecutors overseeing the Ahbap investigation announced the arrest of 14 suspects, including the charity’s founder, musician Haluk Levent.

According to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, 25 suspects were referred to court following an investigation coordinated by the Financial Crimes Division of the Istanbul Police Department into allegations including establishing a criminal organization, aggravated fraud and laundering proceeds of crime.

Prosecutors said financial crime investigators examined banking records, Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) reports, account transactions and surveillance findings. Authorities alleged that several suspects conducted financial transactions inconsistent with their declared income, transferred large sums of money among themselves, lost substantial amounts through betting activities and carried out multiple property transfers within a short period.

Nineteen suspects were referred to court with requests for arrest, while six were referred under judicial control measures. Courts ordered the arrest of 14 suspects.

Crackdown on organized crime

Moreover, the minister also pledged to intensify the government’s fight against organized crime groups and illegal betting networks, remarking that authorities will target both criminal organizations and their financial infrastructure.

He said authorities would not tolerate criminal groups that recruit children and young people, spread fear in neighborhoods, or glorify violence and firearms. Beyond arresting gang leaders and members, prosecutors are also investigating criminal organizations’ financial resources, weapons supply networks and assets obtained through drug trafficking and other illicit activities.

“We will not leave our streets to criminal organizations,” Gürlek stressed, adding that close coordination between prosecutors and law enforcement agencies has helped narrow the operational space of street gangs and disrupt their funding sources.

Gürlek also described illegal betting and online gambling as a multidimensional threat that harms families, fuels addiction among young people and provides financing for organized crime.

He said the government’s strategy extends beyond prosecuting suspects to dismantling the financial networks behind the operations. Authorities are strengthening measures to prevent bank accounts and mobile phone lines from being used for criminal purposes, reinforcing cybercrime investigation units within prosecutors’ offices and closely monitoring financial flows involving cryptocurrencies, electronic payment institutions and social media advertisements.

The minister said authorities remain committed to exposing the financial structures behind illegal betting operations and confiscating proceeds generated through criminal activity.

Fight against FETÖ

During his speech, Gürlek reaffirmed the government’s commitment to combating the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ), saying authorities would maintain investigations into the group’s current structure, financial resources, clandestine networks, safe houses and overseas connections, stressing that all judicial proceedings would be based on concrete evidence and respect the right to a fair trial.

He described FETÖ as more than a terrorist group, accusing it of infiltrating state institutions and attempting to manipulate the judiciary, education system and security apparatus for its own interests.

“The Republic of Türkiye will never allow any tutelage, parallel structure or terrorist group to prevail over the will of the nation,” he said.

Modernizing judiciary

The minister also highlighted recent reforms aimed at improving the efficiency of the judicial system, citing investments in new courthouse facilities and digital platforms, including the National Judiciary Informatics System (UYAP), e-hearings and the Video Conference System (SEGBİS).

Gürlek said amendments to the execution of sentences were introduced to address public concerns over perceived impunity, including requirements that offenders serve a minimum portion of their prison terms before becoming eligible for supervised release and revised sentencing rules for repeat offenders.

He said the reforms are intended to strengthen public confidence in the justice system while ensuring effective investigations, fair trials, protection of victims’ rights and the rehabilitation of convicted offenders.

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The Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) left its low-ranking members to fend for themselves after counterterrorism operations in Türkiye reduced its clout. Its high-ranking figures, however, enjoy a comfortable life in the U.S. The country, where the now-deceased FETÖ leader Fetullah Gülen lived for decades, became a safe haven for the group, especially after 2014. Starting that year, when it came under fresh scrutiny in Türkiye, the terrorist group helped its top figures to flee abroad. The Western countries embraced them.

Top cadres of FETÖ and their families have been living as fugitives since then, but theirs have been more comfortable compared to those of other crimes. They managed to secure long-term residence permits and a life of luxury, as indicated by photos and images of their posh residences and wedding ceremonies of FETÖ members abroad.

In the meantime, influential names of FETÖ abroad advised “patience” to other members facing legal proceedings in Türkiye and told them that the prison terms they were handed down and their life in hiding were just “an earthly test,” tapping into religious jargon the group skillfully used for years to disguise its ambitions to seize power. The stark divide between the lives of those abroad and those imprisoned in Türkiye eventually led to infighting in the group, with criticism mounting against “elder brothers” living comfortably in the United States from low-ranking members.

Among those living in the United States are Barbaros Kocakurt, a member of FETÖ’s so-called “executive council,” and Ismail Büyükçelebi, another top figure of the group, who are currently on trial in Türkiye. Both men and their families live in New Jersey, U.S. New Jersey is also home to the family of Adil Öksüz, a former lecturer who orchestrated the 2016 coup attempt of FETÖ with military infiltrators. Abdülhadi Yıldırım, the brother-in-law of Öksüz who lives in the United States, purchased the new residence of the Öksüz family with funds from FETÖ. The family of Hakan Çiçek, another civilian who helped mastermind the coup attempt with Öksüz, also lives in the U.S., financing their lives with FETÖ funds.

FETÖ’s top figures turned to commerce to fund the group in the U.S. and are active in several businesses, from IT companies to furniture and food companies. Temel Alsancak, Osman Hilmi Özdil, Hamza Sevinç, Özcan Aytuluner and Ismail Kokuroğlu are just a few FETÖ figures who set up businesses in the U.S. Their capital was also provided by FETÖ’s own funds, believed to be created through past donations by unsuspecting sympathizers of the group.

The terrorist group also pays “salaries” to its top names, ranging from $2,500 to $10,000, according to the security sources. The 12 members of the “executive council” of FETÖ are among the highest-paid figures of the terrorist group.

After the 2024 death of Fetullah Gülen, however, the terrorist group has been embroiled in internal strife, which manifested itself in social media battles between members. Losing its central authority after the failure of the coup, the terrorist group appears to be heading into a dissolution process.

The leadership struggles and deep internal rifts that had long been concealed within the group’s senior ranks became fully exposed after Gülen’s death.

Power struggle

A fierce power struggle has emerged between the group known as the “mollas,” which seeks to control the group’s vast financial resources and administrative structure, and its Europe- and U.S.-based factions.

In particular, the rivalry over the distribution of power between senior figures such as Cevdet Türkyolu, regarded as Gülen’s closest confidant, and Mustafa Özcan, who is said to have overseen the group’s financial network, has triggered a major crisis of confidence among members, accompanied by mutual accusations of internal purges.

Meanwhile, Abdullah Aymaz, a key figure in FETÖ’s European network, has reportedly been working to consolidate control over its financial and operational activities across Europe.

Disputes over the management of multimillion-dollar real estate holdings and the group’s international education network have divided it into regional power centers.

As rank-and-file members have begun to lose their loyalty to FETÖ and financial contributions have declined, ownership disputes have erupted over schools and foundations operating internationally.

Following Gülen’s death, disintegration within the lower ranks accelerated, while allegations of corruption and the embezzlement of organizational funds evolved into public exchanges and mutual accusations on social media.

Social media posts in which senior members accuse one another of corruption, misappropriating funds and collaborating with foreign intelligence services in an effort to gain control of foundation assets and real estate reportedly worth billions of dollars have highlighted the scale of the group’s internal breakdown and what supporters of this view describe as an ongoing process of fragmentation.

Former members have also begun publishing documents related to previously concealed clandestine operations, alleged blackmail materials, and claims of internal misconduct through social media platforms. According to these accounts, the disclosures have exposed FETÖ’s past activities while demonstrating that trust and loyalty within its ranks have largely collapsed.

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who was first targeted by the group while he was serving as intelligence chief, said the group’s date of expiration is long overdue.

Fidan said they continue to work around the clock to prevent FETÖ from carrying out illegitimate activities, espionage, and actions aimed against Türkiye in the countries where the group operates.

“FETÖ is now a group whose period of usefulness has come to an end. Despite this, it continues its struggle against the state. It continues its campaign against the leaders elected by the people to govern the country. In doing so, it also cooperates with international malign power centers. This is a disgrace. At present, the group’s leaders are effectively holding a group of people hostage. These individuals are living in exile abroad. They need to wake up, break free from the illusion they have been living under, rediscover genuine love for their homeland, embrace true religious belief and practice, renew their loyalty to their nation and state, and stand up against the group. As long as they do not rebel against the group, it will continue to exploit their existence to serve foreign intelligence services and maintain its value in the eyes of those actors,” Fidan stated.

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The failed July 15, 2016 coup attempt was not a plan improvised in a single night but the culmination of months of preparation that accelerated after Türkiye’s Nov. 1, 2015 general election, according to court files and findings from official investigations into the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ).

The terrorist group had spent years infiltrating state institutions under the guise of religious, educational and charitable activities before shifting toward an attempt to seize state power through military force.

After the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) regained its parliamentary majority in the Nov. 1 election, FETÖ concluded that its efforts to expand political influence through bureaucratic networks had failed, prompting senior members of the group to move forward with plans for a military coup.

Coup planning begins

Preparations began in November 2015 with meetings involving key civilian coordinators, including Adil Öksüz and Kemal Batmaz, who are considered central figures responsible for coordinating the group’s military structure.

Several meetings were held in Pennsylvania, where Gülen was living at the time, as well as in Ankara and Istanbul. At least 23 high-level planning meetings were held connected to the coup preparations.

The first meeting took place on Nov. 14-15, 2015, in Pennsylvania. Following that meeting, Öksüz, Batmaz, Hakan Çiçek, Nurettin Oruç, Harun Biniş and Özcan Aytuluner allegedly formed a coordination group responsible for implementing the coup plan.

Between late December 2015 and March 2016, a series of meetings with military officers were held in Ankara. Reports from those gatherings were regularly delivered to senior FETÖ figures in Pennsylvania through repeated visits by Öksüz and Batmaz.

Planning intensified in the spring of 2016. Additional meetings involving FETÖ-linked military personnel were held in Ankara between March and June to finalize operational details.

Final order from Pennsylvania

Öksüz, Batmaz and Oruç traveled again to Pennsylvania between June 20 and June 25, 2016, where they received final instructions before returning to Türkiye.

The final phase of preparations reportedly took place in early July. Prosecutors say Öksüz chaired four consecutive meetings with senior military officers in Ankara from July 6 to July 9 to finalize assignments and operational plans for the coup attempt.

Öksüz and Batmaz then traveled once more to Pennsylvania on July 12, according to court records, before returning to Türkiye shortly afterward.

Coup set in motion

Simultaneous coordination meetings continued between July 12 and July 15 at military facilities in Ankara and Istanbul, including Maltepe Barracks, the Air Force Academy and the Air War College. Numerous officers gathered at those locations despite having no official assignment there.

On July 14, civilian coordinators allegedly relocated to Ankara for final preparations ahead of the operation.

The coup attempt began on the evening of July 15, 2016, when rogue military personnel linked to FETÖ deployed tanks, fighter jets and helicopters against state institutions and civilians.

Call for resistance

Shortly after, F-16 fighter jets commanded by putschists started flying low above the capital. Soon, images and videos of soldiers closing down two key bridges in Istanbul were everywhere. At 11:02 p.m., Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım announced an “illegal action” against the government in a live call with broadcaster NTV and vowed a response. At 11:05 p.m., the Chief Prosecutor’s Office in Ankara announced an investigation against the coup attempt.

The putschists taking over public broadcaster TRT also forced a presenter to announce that “the Turkish army took over administration.”

Moreover, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan appeared in a video call to broadcaster CNN Türk and made a historic speech, calling the nation to the streets against the putschists.

The attempt was thwarted after resistance from security forces and civilians who responded to calls to defend the elected government. According to official figures, 251 people were killed and more than 2,700 others were wounded during the failed coup attempt. Turkish authorities have since carried out extensive judicial proceedings against thousands of suspects accused of involvement in the plot.

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A new draft bill proposed by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) calls for life imprisonment for grave offenses committed by suspects between the ages of 15 and 18, in a major shift from the policy of more relaxed sentences for “children driven to crime.”

Leyla Şahin Usta, the party’s deputy parliamentary group chair, elaborated on the bill as she formally delivered it to the presidency of the Turkish Parliament for discussion and voting at the General Assembly.

Speaking at a news conference in Ankara on Tuesday, Usta said the judges would have the authority to hand down life imprisonment for suspects between the ages of 15 and 18 if they are convicted of crimes, such as murder, similar to the sentencing of adults. She underlined that it would be strictly the decision of the judges to hand down such sentences.

Murders committed by minors and gangs’ increasing use of children to carry out shootings have been under the spotlight in the country in recent years.

A series of fatal stabbing incidents involving teenagers has intensified public debate in Türkiye over youth violence and the factors driving minors toward crime. One of the most widely reported cases occurred on Jan. 24, 2025, when 14-year-old Mattia Ahmet Minguzzi was stabbed by a 15-year-old attacker at a street market in Istanbul. Minguzzi died on Feb. 9 after spending 16 days in intensive care.

Just two months later, another fatal stabbing shocked the public in the northern province of Tokat, where 17-year-old national athlete Berkay Melikoğlu was killed.

In one of the most recent incidents, 17-year-old Atlas Çağlayan died after being stabbed during an argument in Istanbul on Jan. 14, with initial findings indicating that the suspect is a 15-year-old.

Usta stressed that the 18-article bill aims to strengthen the protection of children, reinforce the juvenile justice system, and improve public safety.

Recalling that the Parliamentary Commission on Children Driven to Crime had submitted its report, Usta said the commission’s findings were used in preparing the bill.

“Taking into account factors such as the degree of intentional culpability, the motive and purpose behind the offense, the manner in which it was committed, and whether the offender has previously been convicted of an intentional crime resulting in imprisonment, the proposal provides that judges may, at their discretion, choose not to apply any sentence reduction for children aged 15-18 who commit intentional homicide or aggravated bodily injury resulting in death or serious consequences. Thus, if the specified conditions are met, children between the ages of 15 and 18 may receive life imprisonment or aggravated life imprisonment at the judge’s discretion. Likewise, for children aged 12-15 who commit intentional homicide or aggravated bodily injury resulting in severe consequences, judges will also be granted discretion, under certain conditions, to impose sentences with smaller reductions.”

Usta also stated that the age threshold for applying the Turkish Penal Code’s recidivism (repeat offender) provisions would be lowered from 18 to 15. This, she said, is intended to prevent criminal organizations from exploiting children aged 15-18 and to strengthen deterrence.

“In cases where a child commits intentional homicide or aggravated bodily injury resulting in severe consequences because of a parent’s violation of obligations arising from family law, the sentence imposed on the parent may be increased by between one-half and two times. The aim is to strengthen parental responsibility over children,” she added in reference to the bill.

Sentences for adults

Other articles of the bill include prison sentences for parents or other adults improperly storing firearms in a way that allows children to gain access. The bill also imposed a strict ban on the sale of knives and similar instruments to children.

“In line with a child-rights approach, we are replacing the term ‘child driven to crime’ in legislation with ‘child in judicial proceedings.’ This terminology better reflects the presumption of innocence and a child-centered approach for children against whom there is no final judicial decision,” she also said.

“For children who do not bear criminal responsibility, in addition to existing protective and supportive measures such as shelter, education, health care, counseling and care, we are introducing new guidance measures including ‘social and community services,’ ‘protection from digital risks,’ ‘books and library programs,’ ‘respect for the environment and environmental cleanliness,’ and measures addressing tobacco, nicotine, alcohol, gambling, narcotics, stimulants, and behavioral addictions.’ In this way, we aim to rehabilitate children without criminal responsibility more effectively and prepare them for social life,” Usta added.

Usta further stated that a rapid and effective decision-making mechanism would be established between hospitals and judicial authorities so that children suffering from mental illness or addiction and posing a danger to themselves or others could promptly access necessary treatment and protective services.

She added that if a court decides to suspend the announcement of a judgment (deferred judgment) for a child, guidance measures supporting education, social integration, and rehabilitation would be implemented during the probation period.

Usta also announced that, for children under the age of 15, preparing an indictment without first obtaining a social investigation report would become grounds for the indictment to be returned by the court.

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Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan visits Ukraine on 15-16 July for talks focused on strengthening bilateral relations, advancing diplomatic efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war and expanding cooperation in trade, defense and reconstruction.

According to ministry sources, during the two-day visit, Fidan is expected to be received by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and hold meetings with Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov, Presidential Office chief Kyrylo Budanov, Crimean Tatar leader Mustafa Abdulcemile Qırımoğlu and Crimean Tatar Mejlis Chairman Refat Chubarov.

Speaking to reporters aboard the train, Fidan said the delegation would reach Kyiv after a 10-hour journey, adding that both the outbound and return trips were being made by rail due to the closure of Ukraine’s airspace.

Fidan recalled that he visited Moscow last month, where he conveyed messages from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and received Russia’s perspective on the war during meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Fidan said ending the war remains one of the most pressing issues, noting that two different approaches have emerged in Europe.

“One track focuses on how to support the war effort, while the other focuses on how to end the war. Türkiye is primarily on the track of how to stop the war,” he underlined.

Fidan is expected to reaffirm Türkiye’s support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, while emphasizing the importance of sustaining diplomatic efforts toward a just and lasting peace. He is also expected to reiterate that Türkiye remains ready to help bring Russia and Ukraine back to the negotiating table.

“We hosted Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul last year. Before that, we carried out various facilitation efforts to bring the sides together. There was also the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which made safe navigation in the Black Sea possible at the time,” Fidan said.

“Building on all those efforts, I believe this visit will make a positive contribution to the ongoing diplomatic process,” he added.

Discussions are also expected to focus on regional security, particularly the Black Sea, where Ankara has repeatedly warned against further escalation. Fidan is expected to stress that attacks targeting ports, commercial vessels and fishing boats are unacceptable and underline Türkiye’s commitment to preserving the Black Sea as a region of peace, stability and cooperation.

Economic ties are also expected to feature prominently on the agenda. The visit follows Ukraine’s parliamentary ratification of the Türkiye-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement, originally signed in February 2022. The agreement is expected to enter into force after being signed by President Zelenskyy.

Turkish officials expect the deal to improve the competitiveness of Turkish exporters in the Ukrainian market and support the two countries’ long-term goal of increasing bilateral trade to $10 billion. Trade volume between the two countries rose from $6.2 billion in 2024 to $6.6 billion in 2025.

Fidan is also expected to discuss the role Turkish companies could play in Ukraine’s postwar reconstruction and reaffirm Türkiye’s long-standing rejection of Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea. He is expected to emphasize the importance of strengthening the rights and welfare of the Crimean Tatar community.

The trip marks Fidan’s first visit to Ukraine since May 2025, while the latest ministerial-level visit from Ukraine to Türkiye took place during the NATO summit hosted in Ankara earlier this month.

Coalition of the Willing

Turkish minister also attended the leaders’ summit of the Coalition of the Willing on Ukraine on Monday, taking part on behalf of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the ministry said in a statement.

The Coalition of the Willing summit in Paris brought together about 25 leaders from more than 30 participating countries.

French President Emmanuel Macron first announced plans for the joint exercises on Monday, during the group’s latest summit.

The Coalition of the Willing is planning a multinational force led by European countries and backed by the United States to help guarantee Ukraine’s security after an end to Russia’s war against the country.

Efforts to negotiate a cease-fire or broader peace agreement have, however, been stalled for months.

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The “controlled coup” lie quickly spread online and, at one point, even found its way into opposition propaganda. On the 10th anniversary of the July 15, 2016, coup attempt by the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ), security sources say the contingency plan was created by the group to dodge the blame for their role in the attempt that killed 253 people.

Although its attempt ultimately failed due to unprecedented public resistance, for decades, FETÖ managed to run an infiltration scheme, planting its members into the state institutions. FETÖ leader Fetullah Gülen had once said that having a member in the military was worth the work of “ten colleges,” referring to FETÖ’s global school network, which also served as recruitment hubs for the group.

Before the 2016 coup attempt, FETÖ used its infiltrators in law enforcement and the judiciary to carry out similar operations targeting public officials, including a so-called anti-graft probe in 2013 and a plot to imprison the intelligence chief. It was designated as a security threat following the December 2013 coup attempts seeking to imprison government officials, and authorities closed in on FETÖ’s secret network in the army. The 2016 coup attempt was also a scheme to stop plans to weed out FETÖ members from the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). Having learned that infiltrators in the army would be expelled in an August 2016 meeting of the Supreme Military Council (YAŞ), FETÖ launched its putsch bid on July 15.

Security sources said that Enver Altaylı was one of the individuals who had worked for FETÖ for many years and was behind the terrorist group’s disinformation campaign on “controlled coup” or that anti-coup authorities deliberately let the attempt proceed before intervention.

“FETÖ once again resorted to its well-established tactics of slander and attributing its own actions to others following the failed coup attempt. Anticipating the possibility that the coup could fail, the organization activated its ‘Plan B’ by promoting the allegation that the events of July 15 were a ‘controlled coup.’ The architect of this plan was Enver Altaylı, who for years acted as a proxy for foreign intelligence services and appeared behind numerous operations. Altaylı maintained contact with dozens of fugitive former military officers affiliated with FETÖ abroad and established a network among them. He is also known to have had a long-standing relationship with Mustafa Özcan, one of FETÖ’s most senior and influential figures,” sources said.

Altaylı, an intelligence officer who once worked at the Soviet desk of the National Intelligence Organization (MIT), was sentenced in 2021 by a Turkish court for his links to FETÖ. Altaylı, author of several books and a former columnist, had close ties with Ruzi Nazar, an Uzbek intelligence officer who worked for the CIA, and penned a book about the latter’s life.

During an investigation into his work after the coup attempt, authorities discovered that in 2017, Altaylı was working on a report he called “A Search For Truth” with input from FETÖ-linked military officers, aiming to disseminate the “controlled coup” narrative. The report was eventually released on the website of the Stockholm Center for Freedom, a group controlled by FETÖ. It served as the basis of FETÖ propaganda that basically claimed that the coup attempt was staged.

“The ‘controlled coup’ narrative, jointly produced by FETÖ and Enver Altaylı as the organization’s Plan B, later became political material for some who accepted it as true. This will remain one of the most unfortunate examples of falling into the trap laid by the organization and will be condemned in history and in the conscience of the Turkish nation,” sources said.

The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) stood behind the narrative. Its leader, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who shunned joining public resistance against the putschists, endorsed the narrative and touted it as legitimate, claiming that the government was aware of the coup plot and the coup itself was “controlled.”

Sources say Altaylı was also active in other plots against the government, including the Gezi Park riots of 2013 and the notorious “MIT trucks” case orchestrated by FETÖ, which declared war on Turkish intelligence and also fed the propaganda that Türkiye was supporting the terrorist group Daesh. After the 2016 coup attempt, Altaylı joined former military officers linked to FETÖ to spread the FETÖ propaganda internationally.

“Anticipating failure, FETÖ transformed its long-running campaigns portraying Türkiye as ‘radical Islamist’ and ‘supportive of Daesh’ into a broader disinformation campaign after July 15. Fabricated reports prepared by fugitive FETÖ coup plotters were circulated among influential figures and institutions in various countries, again with the approval of Enver Altaylı. Evidence presented during Altaylı’s trial showed that he acted as an intermediary between senior FETÖ leaders and foreign actors in efforts to undermine Türkiye’s legitimate government. A document recovered from his computer, described as a ‘bloody chaos plan,’ caused widespread shock. Similar documents were also found in the possession of several coup plotters,” sources said.

The document outlined plans to incite conflict among the Turkish people and provoke bloodshed. It stated that all opposition groups should be mobilized to take to the streets, that an economic crisis should be engineered, that international pressure should be exerted to halt the flow of funds from Gulf countries to Türkiye, and that a gradual climate of internal conflict could ultimately lead to a change of government. According to the security sources, Altaylı also acted as an adviser in shaping FETÖ’s broader strategy of creating chaos.

“At the same time, FETÖ’s clandestine structures were also known to be planning prison riots and unrest across Türkiye. In addition, notes dated Feb. 18, 2016, recovered from Altaylı’s computer and prepared before the July 15 coup attempt, clearly demonstrated his support for an uprising against the state and the constitutional order,” sources said.

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