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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Türkiye would continue its fight against the FETO terrorist organization until the threat was completely eliminated, warning against complacency despite what he described as declining morale within the group following the death of its leader.
Erdogan made the remarks during the “10th Year of July 15: The Will Is Ours, The Victory Is Ours” program at Baskent Millet Bahcesi.
“I want every citizen to know this fact very well: Although FETO has lost its guard, hope and motivation following the death of the terrorist organization’s leader, we can never afford to become complacent in the fight against this insidious network,” Erdogan said.
“As long as FETO exists, the fight against FETO will also continue,” he added.
Erdogan said Türkiye would continue combating the organization patiently and within the framework of the law until the danger had fully passed, while drawing lessons from previous events.
He said authorities would avoid traps set by the group and proceed carefully against its covert members.
“We will pursue the organization’s crypto elements carefully, cautiously and meticulously without falling into the traps FETO wants to draw us into,” Erdogan said.
He said the police, judiciary and intelligence services were carrying out their duties with “the precision of a surgeon,” while taking maximum care to distinguish between those who were guilty and those who were innocent.
Erdogan said Türkiye’s efforts abroad were continuing to reduce areas that the organization could exploit.
He highlighted the work of the Türkiye Maarif Foundation, which operates 543 educational institutions in 66 countries.
Erdogan said authorities would not allow FETO to regain a foothold in society through structures that appeared legitimate.
He said the government was closely monitoring attempts by the organization to reestablish itself in bureaucracy, politics and particularly commercial activities.
Türkiye was also making intensive efforts to secure the extradition of fugitive members of the group living abroad, Erdogan said.
“We will continue the fight until we eradicate this espionage network, whose greatest characteristic is eating away at the body from within like a cancer cell,” he said.
Erdogan said the state was already taking necessary legal measures for those who had abandoned hostility toward Türkiye, were trying to distance themselves from what he described as the group’s deviant path and genuinely regretted their crimes.
However, he warned that anyone involved in illegal activity, continuing hostility toward the Turkish nation or attempting to “stab Türkiye in the heart” would be held accountable before justice.
Erdogan said terrorist organizations had reached the end of the road and could achieve nothing through hostility toward Türkiye.
“At this point, everyone must see this: Terrorist organizations have now run out of road,” Erdogan said.
“There is nowhere to be reached through hostility toward Türkiye.”
He said the Turkish state had more than enough power to eliminate any threat directed against it and to crush those who attempted to act against the country.
“Everyone should make their calculations accordingly,” Erdogan said.
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