First FETÖ trial commences in Turkey

The main trial has commenced in the Turkish capital, Ankara, which is to include 73 coupist Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) executives, including the leader of FETÖ, Fetullah Gülen, in absence.

A violent coup bid was witnessed this past July 15, mostly in Turkey's cities, when the terrorist group headed by Fetullah Gülen attempted to topple the democratically-elected government.

Turkey's government says the deadly coup plot, which martyred more than 240 people and injured more than 2,000 others, was organized by FETÖ members.

The defendants are accused of attempting to violate the Turkish Constitution, attempting to topple the government, establishing and managing an armed terrorist organization, political and military espionage, seizing personal data in violation of the law and qualified fraud. The prosecution demands prison sentences between 132 years and two times life-time prison.

Along with the fugitives, some prisoned defendants, such as Kazım Avcı, Dilaver Azim, former MP İlhan İşbilen, Ali Çelik, Abdülkadir Aksoy and Alaeddin Kaya, attended the trial.

Alihan Uncu's application to defend Fetullah Gülen was refused by the body of lawyers.

Gülen has been living in self-exile in the state of Pennsylvania in the United States since 1999.

Washington says it is cooperating with Ankara on the matter and asked its NATO ally to have patience, as it processes the extradition request for Gülen to meet U.S. legal requirements.