Houston Chronicle




ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey on Friday accused the United States of
becoming a “safe harbor” for members of a network that it blames for a
coup attempt in 2016, after Washington criticized the conviction of a
U.S. Consulate employee on terror charges.

Metin Topuz, a translator and assistant for the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Agency in Istanbul, was sentenced to eight years and nine months in
prison on Thursday, convicted of aiding the network led by U.S.-based
Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen. The Turkish government blames Gulen
for the 2016 coup attempt and considers his network to be a terrorist
organization.

Topuz’s arrest in 2017 and subsequent prosecution caused tensions
between NATO allies Ankara and Washington. U.S. Secretary of State
Mike Pompeo issued a statement Thursday criticizing the conviction.

Pompeo said: “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.”

Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy hit back, claiming that
other people with links to Gulen had “infiltrated” U.S. missions in
Turkey and accusing U.S. authorities of ignoring requests for the
extradition of Gulen-affiliated individuals.

“We are concerned that the United States has become a safe harbor for
members of (Gulen’s) terrorist organization,” Aksoy said in a written
statement.

Aksoy also called on the United States to respect the “judicial
independence” of Turkey's courts and to refrain from attempts “to
influence the judiciary.”

Topuz has maintained his innocence throughout his trial and is
expected to appeal the verdict.

Gulen, who has been in self-imposed exile in the U.S. since 1999,
denies involvement in the coup attempt.