Turkey is acting according to international human rights conventions in its measures against the FETO, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told the European lawmakers on Wednesday.
“To clear elements of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization from where they infiltrated, notably in public institutions, we should do whatever is needed,” he told the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg.
“We are acting in accordance with the principles of a law-abiding state. We act in accordance with the European Convention on Human Rights and international responsibilities.”
Later, following a meeting with PACE President Pedro Agramunt, Cavusoglu said Turkey would consider the Council of Europe’s recommendations in the wake of the July 15 coup attempt, for which Ankara holds FETO responsible.
Referring to Turkey’s state of emergency, which was extended by three months this week, he said: “We had to prolong the state of emergency since the situation was too complicated. We have to make sure such a coup attempt never happens again.
“We continue to cooperate with the Council of Europe during the process. We are informing them about our legislative regulations. The process [of taking action against FETO] runs [in accordance] with the Council of Europe [standards] and basic values.
“The state of emergency will be lifted once the situation has normalized.”
More than 240 people were martyred and around 2,200 others injured when a section of the armed forces tried to overthrow the government. Turkey has accused FETO, led by U.S.-based Fetullah Gulen, of organizing a long-running campaign to topple the state through the infiltration of institutions such as the military, police and judiciary.