An Istanbul municipality sues US for supporting FETÖ

Istanbul's Pendik Municipality has filed a claim for compensation against the United States for supporting the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), who are responsible for attempting the coup bid of July 15, which failed due to the Turkish citizens' resistance. The coup targeted the Turkish government and democratic system.

Pendik Mayor Kenan Şahin said they are determined to protect their rights against the U.S., which supported FETÖ by not extraditing FETÖ Leader Fetullah Gülen and by fueling the jets which departed from Turkey's Incirlik Airbase on the coup bid night.

Şahin said they were inspired by the 9/11 bill, which paved the way for the families of September 11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia's government for damages. The first lawsuit against Saudi Arabia was proceeded shortly after.

"The bill not just paved the way for Saudi Arabia to be sued, but also the U.S. to be sued over its support for FETÖ," he said.

"As many as 241 people were martyred on the night of July 15. We have a big loss," Şahin added.

Previously, an Israeli activist sued Israel for attacking Mavi Marmara and won compensation.

The bill also started the ball rolling for the U.S. to be sued by the victims of the Kurdistan Workers' Party-affiliated Democratic Union Party (PKK/PYD), for which the U.S. expressed support.

Also, the families of the victims of the coup bid of the coupist Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) may sue the U.S. because the country protects the terrorist leader Fetullah Gülen.

On July 15, as many as 241 people, including members of the security forces and civilians, were martyred in Istanbul and Ankara and nearly 2,000 others were wounded, as they protested against the coup bid.

Turkey accuses the Fetullah Gülen-led FETÖ terrorist organization of attempting the coup bid.