![Turkey Issues Arrest Warrant For Fethullah Gulen](https://www.srjnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Turkey-Issues-Arrest-Warrant-For-Fethullah-Gulen.jpg)
Turkey has finally issued a warrant for the US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen who is being blamed to have masterminded the failed coup attempt on July 15 that left about 300 people dead in the country.
According to media reports, an Istanbul-based court has issued a formal warrant against the former ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Gulen lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania, but he has denied having involvement in the failed coup attempt. The cleric added not to have prior knowledge of it.
Meanwhile, Turkey has not yet made a formal extradition request to the US. The formal warrant is like a signal to Washington.
It is learned the warrant is based on accusations that the coup plotters tried assassinating Erdogan.
State-run news agency Anadolu writes, “It has been understood without a doubt that the attempted coup was an activity of the terror organization and that it was carried out with the orders of its founder, suspect Fethullah Gulen.”
Arrest warrant was also issued in December 2014 for the cleric accusing of running an armed group.
Since the failed coup attempt about 70,000 people have either been dismissed from job or suspended by the Erdogan government.