Turkish court gives life terms to 15 FETÖ members

A Turkish court on Wednesday sentenced 15 members of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) to life imprisonment over their involvement in the July 2016 defeated coup, according to a judicial source.

The 29th High Penal Court in Istanbul gave aggravated life sentences to 13 FETO members, while two other members received life term over the deadly confrontation on the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge during the night of the defeated coup, said the source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

They were convicted of attempting to violate the constitutional order on the night of the defeated coup.

Three people were martyred and 49 others injured during the confrontation between putschists and the civilians.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 250 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.