Operations to oust FETÖ terrorists will continue: Turkish PM

Turkey will continue to clear out Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) terrorists said Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım on Thursday.

“Our success in the judiciary in terms of ousting FETÖ is far ahead of other institutions. This is not a coincidence, it is because the judiciary was the first institution to be affected," Yıldırım said.

Since the failed coup, operations have been ongoing in the military, police and judiciary, as well as in state institutions across the country, to arrest suspects with alleged links to FETÖ.

“FETÖ terrorists betrayed the judiciary after the 2010 referendum. When the time came, they were all identified and removed," the Prime Minister said.

“There are no longer 3,581 traitors among you. A total of 4,235 assistant personnel were cleared from the judiciary. There are, most probably, still people linked to FETÖ in more junior positions. We expect the operations to oust these people to continue."

FETÖ terrorists are led by U.S.-based Fetullah Gülen, who orchestrated Turkey's July 15 coup plot and is the mastermind behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.

The Prime Minister also spoke about the infrastructural developments of the judiciary.

“Many institutions are being established to accelerate the judiciary. In a few years, the speed of judgement will increase," he said.

“We have constructed 223 courthouses, and there has been a 70 per cent increase in judges and prosecutors. This is to ensure that the judiciary gains momentum, and justice manifests without delay."

Yıldırım expressed a resolute will to speed up the Turkish courts.

“Delayed justice is not justice, we must speed up the judgement process. Delayed judgements decrease trust in the judiciary," the Prime Minister said.

Turkey extended the state of emergency declared after the failed July 15 coup attempt another three months from January 19.

“After July 15, a state of emergency was declared. This state of emergency is still underway, but it does not impact citizens. It is for the government, so that we may clear out FETÖ terrorists," said Yıldırım.

Police, civil servants and academics have been dismissed under the emergency rule in order to purge those with links to FETÖ.

Some people who have been suspended or dismissed since the coup were restored to their posts, though many have been jailed pending trial or are under investigation.

Hundreds of firms, many of them smaller provincial businesses, have been seized in the post-coup crackdown.

“We are acting not with a sense of mercy or revenge, but with a sense of justice. It is our duty as the state of law to prevent grievances."