Turkey issues arrest warrant for US-based cleric

A Turkish court has issued a formal arrest warrant for Fethullah Gülen, the U.S.-based Muslim cleric accused of being responsible for the failed July 15 coup attempt.

{mosads}The Istanbul court issued the warrant for “ordering the 15 July coup attempt,” according to the state-run Anadolu Agency.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government has said Gülen, who lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania, masterminded the overthrow attempt, which left 270 dead. Gülen, a former ally of Erdogan’s, has disavowed any prior knowledge of the uprising.

While Turkey has sent information to the U.S. to provide evidence for Gülen’s extradition, officials are still reviewing the documents to determine whether they constitute a formal request. 

“I can’t say definitively at this point that a formal request was made,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest said on July 19. “We’re still reviewing the materials that were submitted by the Turkish government.” 

The warrant could lay the groundwork for such a request. 

Since the coup attempt, tens of thousands of government employees have been suspended or dismissed in a massive shake-up that has led to the arrest or detainment of 18,000 people.

Earlier on Thursday, Erdogan vowed to go after businesses connected to Gülen.

“Without doubt, this organization has an extension in the business world. Maybe it is what they are most powerful at,” he said in remarks to the heads of chambers of commerce in Ankara, according to multiple reports.

“We are determined to totally cut off all business links of this organization, which has blood on its hands.”