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| Turks to Seek Extradition of Preacher Living in U.S. | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| ISTANBUL — Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday that Turkey would officially request that the United States extradite Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish preacher in Pennsylvania whose network of followers has been accused of trying to undercut Mr. Erdogan’s government through a corruption scandal. | ISTANBUL — Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday that Turkey would officially request that the United States extradite Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish preacher in Pennsylvania whose network of followers has been accused of trying to undercut Mr. Erdogan’s government through a corruption scandal. |
| The request, which Mr. Erdogan announced to reporters in Ankara, is a new low point in relations between Mr. Erdogan and Mr. Gulen, a onetime ally who retains wide influence in Turkey even though he has lived in rural Pennsylvania since 1997. It reflects the sensitivity of the corruption accusations that have been leveled against Mr. Erdogan’s close circle, including his son and the sons of some of his ministers. | The request, which Mr. Erdogan announced to reporters in Ankara, is a new low point in relations between Mr. Erdogan and Mr. Gulen, a onetime ally who retains wide influence in Turkey even though he has lived in rural Pennsylvania since 1997. It reflects the sensitivity of the corruption accusations that have been leveled against Mr. Erdogan’s close circle, including his son and the sons of some of his ministers. |
| Mr. Erdogan’s Islamist government and the supporters of Mr. Gulen, who promotes a moderate, pro-Western brand of Sunni Islam that appeals to many well-educated and professional Turks, once made common cause against the country’s staunchly secular military and political leadership. Mr. Gulen, who is 73 and said to be in weak health, left Turkey in the 1990s after being accused of urging the overthrow of the government. He denied the charges, and after Mr. Erdogan came to power, they were dropped. | Mr. Erdogan’s Islamist government and the supporters of Mr. Gulen, who promotes a moderate, pro-Western brand of Sunni Islam that appeals to many well-educated and professional Turks, once made common cause against the country’s staunchly secular military and political leadership. Mr. Gulen, who is 73 and said to be in weak health, left Turkey in the 1990s after being accused of urging the overthrow of the government. He denied the charges, and after Mr. Erdogan came to power, they were dropped. |
| But the two allies fell out last year in a power struggle, and the corruption scandal flared up significantly this year when recordings of telephone conversations surfaced that appeared to indicate widespread corruption in the government — leaks that Mr. Erdogan said were the work of Mr. Gulen’s followers. | But the two allies fell out last year in a power struggle, and the corruption scandal flared up significantly this year when recordings of telephone conversations surfaced that appeared to indicate widespread corruption in the government — leaks that Mr. Erdogan said were the work of Mr. Gulen’s followers. |
| The leaked calls seized public attention before local elections in March and infuriated the government, while having little impact on Mr. Erdogan’s popularity. | The leaked calls seized public attention before local elections in March and infuriated the government, while having little impact on Mr. Erdogan’s popularity. |
| In an interview with Charlie Rose on his PBS talk show shown over the weekend, Mr. Erdogan said that the telephone wiretaps were clearly illegal and that he expected the United States, a close NATO ally of Turkey, to respond positively to the request. | In an interview with Charlie Rose on his PBS talk show shown over the weekend, Mr. Erdogan said that the telephone wiretaps were clearly illegal and that he expected the United States, a close NATO ally of Turkey, to respond positively to the request. |
| The State Department has a policy of not commenting on pending requests, but legal specialists said the Turkish one faced tough odds, not least because of its political overtones. | The State Department has a policy of not commenting on pending requests, but legal specialists said the Turkish one faced tough odds, not least because of its political overtones. |
| “This extradition request has no legal basis,” said Ergun Ozbudun, a professor of law at Istanbul Sehir University, noting the considerable difficulty surrounding extradition requests even when suspects are charged with serious crimes. “The request for Fethullah Gulen’s extradition therefore would be a political one, and I don’t think would produce any results.” | “This extradition request has no legal basis,” said Ergun Ozbudun, a professor of law at Istanbul Sehir University, noting the considerable difficulty surrounding extradition requests even when suspects are charged with serious crimes. “The request for Fethullah Gulen’s extradition therefore would be a political one, and I don’t think would produce any results.” |
| Lawyers for Mr. Gulen, who has permanent resident status in the United States, agreed. “There is neither an investigation nor an arrest warrant issued by court in place to submit to the U.S. authorities,” said Nurullah Albayrak, an Istanbul lawyer who represents Mr. Gulen. “This is not something that political will can decide.” | Lawyers for Mr. Gulen, who has permanent resident status in the United States, agreed. “There is neither an investigation nor an arrest warrant issued by court in place to submit to the U.S. authorities,” said Nurullah Albayrak, an Istanbul lawyer who represents Mr. Gulen. “This is not something that political will can decide.” |
| Mr. Gulen has rejected portrayals of himself as a powerful behind-the-scenes political manipulator. Analysts say his strength in Turkey lies in the number of his followers who hold important positions in state institutions, especially in the judiciary and the police. But he has strongly denied encouraging his followers to mount the graft investigation against Mr. Erdogan and his close circle. | Mr. Gulen has rejected portrayals of himself as a powerful behind-the-scenes political manipulator. Analysts say his strength in Turkey lies in the number of his followers who hold important positions in state institutions, especially in the judiciary and the police. But he has strongly denied encouraging his followers to mount the graft investigation against Mr. Erdogan and his close circle. |
| “Such suggestions are only a cover-up perpetuated to distract public attention from the corruption investigations,” Mr. Gulen said in response to questions emailed to him this year by The New York Times. “It is out of the question for me to give orders to state officials and compel them to do something.” | “Such suggestions are only a cover-up perpetuated to distract public attention from the corruption investigations,” Mr. Gulen said in response to questions emailed to him this year by The New York Times. “It is out of the question for me to give orders to state officials and compel them to do something.” |
| In general, for the United States to approve an extradition request from another country, the person must be accused of a crime recognized in both jurisdictions, and there must be a reasonable belief that the person did commit the crime. It was not clear whether Turkey’s request would satisfy either requirement. | In general, for the United States to approve an extradition request from another country, the person must be accused of a crime recognized in both jurisdictions, and there must be a reasonable belief that the person did commit the crime. It was not clear whether Turkey’s request would satisfy either requirement. |