FETÖ AS AN INTERNATIONAL THREAT REPORT FETÖ AS AN INTERNATIONAL THREAT FETÖ AS AN INTERNATIONAL THREAT Turkish National Police Academy 2nd International Security Symposium Report Prepared by: Prof. Dr. Mehmet Şahin Asst. Prof. Murat Tınas Asst. Prof. Buğra Sarı Asst. Prof. İbrahim İrdem Res. Asst. Yakup Şahin Res. Asst. Hakan Kıyıcı Res. Asst. Müberra Öztürk COPYRIGHT © 2019 Turkish National Police Academy Presidency All rights reserved and owned by Turkish National Police Academy. Not for reproduction, distribution or commercial use unless otherwise specified by Turkish National Police Academy. The content of this publication does not reflect the official views of UTGAM. The data and views presented in the report are owned by the writer(s). Turkish National Police Academy Press: 73 Report No: 25 ISBN: 978-605-7822-02-4 June 2019 Turkish National Police Academy Presidency The International Center for Terrorism and Security Studies (UTGAM) Necatibey Caddesi No: 108 Anıttepe 06400 Çankaya-Ankara/Turkey Tel: +90 (312) 4629085-92-93 / +90 (312) 4629075 / +90 (312) 4629035 www.pa.edu.tr Contents Executive Summary 5 Introduction 11 The History, Characteristics And Aims of FETÖ 15 A Brief History of FETÖ 15 Primary Characteristics of FETÖ 17 FETÖ’s Objectives 21 Media and Education Networks of FETÖ 25 FETÖ’s Media Network 25 FETÖ’s Education Network 29 FETÖ’s Terrorist Identity and Attacks 37 FETÖ as an International Threat 45 FETÖ in the U.S. 45 FETÖ in the Balkans 54 FETÖ in the Middle East 57 FETÖ in Africa 60 FETÖ in Russia, Central Asia and the Caucasus 63 Conclusion: The Fight Against FETÖ 73 Endnotes 76 FETÖ as an International Threat 5 Executive Summary The Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) is one of the greatest threats to Tur- FETÖ constitutes key’s national security due to its sui generis organizational structure. Un- a new generation doubtedly, Turkey regards every terror organization as a threat. However, one could suggest that FETÖ poses the biggest and most substantial threat terror group that to security since it presents an array of socio-economic, socio-political has a potential and socio-psychological threats, has an esoteric and cultist structure, can to threaten easily cooperate with other terror groups or foreign intelligence organiza- international tions for its own interests. Moreover, the organization has demonstrated peace and willingness to go to any lengths to realize its goals, meanwhile its mem- security and affect bers can turn to sleeper cells as crypto operatives with their extreme dedi- intergovernmental cation to the organization as a result of the masterful conduct of FETÖ’s deception method. relations along with the risk it poses to Having such characteristics, FETÖ also constitutes a new generation Turkey considering terror group that has a potential to threaten international peace and secu- its regional and rity and affect intergovernmental relations along with the risk it poses to Turkey considering its regional and global impact. FETÖ diverges from global impact. other international terror groups in terms of radicalization processes as the terror group’s radicalization process dates back to more than 30 years, constituting one of the oldest and most violent examples of global-scale modern cultist radicalization. However, FETÖ masks its criminal nature by misrepresenting itself as an interfaith dialogue or education/humanita- rian aid movement. By covering up its unlawful activities and creating a false public image for itself, FETÖ can easily run its illegal operations in different areas and gain ground by acting as an apparatus of international intelligence organizations. With the methods and strategies it employs, the terror group can undermine the countries it operates in from the inside, rendering them vulnerable to external interventions. Departing from this point and viewing FETÖ’s potential of posing a global threat, it is obvious that the terror group poses a threat to all the countries it operates in alon- gside Turkey. Since FETÖ is an international terror organization, it is significant to clarify the organization’s international networks in different sectors. Ac- 6 FETÖ as an International Threat Shedding light cordingly, the Turkish National Police Academy organized the II. Inter- national Security Symposium entitled “FETÖ as an International Threat” on FETÖ’s with the participation of academics, politicians, members of the judici- international ary, law enforcement representatives, journalists and non-governmental structuring is organizations interested in the subject in order to reveal and discuss FE- crucial not only TÖ’s international terrorism networks. Opinions and recommendations for Turkey’s expressed by the participants during the symposium comprise the general national framework of this report. The leading subjects discussed during the sym- security but for posium are as follows: » Methods and strategies FETÖ resorted to for decades in Turkey in or- international der to infiltrate state apparatuses are also practiced in other countries peace and FETÖ operates in. By infiltrating critical positions and strategic ins- security. titutions in the countries they are active, FETÖ members can mani- pulate state apparatuses of these countries and sabotage their national interests. » FETÖ’s most common type of action in other countries is running an- ti-Turkey propaganda. Through this propaganda, FETÖ attempts to sabotage natural course of international relations by driving a wedge between Turkey and the countries it operates in. For this reason, shed- ding light on FETÖ’s international structuring is crucial not only for Turkey’s national security but for international peace and security. » FETÖ concentrates its activities in education, business and media se- ctors while infiltrating key positions and strategic institutions in the countries it operates in. After infiltrating these structures, it exploits resources of these countries to maintain its organizational activities and enhance its influence. » Increasing its activities in the three sectors mentioned above, FETÖ firstly forms a network for lobbying activities that comprises politici- ans and businessmen and then places its operatives in critical positions through this network, and infiltrates strategic institutions. » FETÖ does not confront any difficulty in recruiting new militants in different countries as it uses its education and media activities as exten- sive indoctrination tools. Therefore, it is important to reveal FETÖ’s covert structures in different countries organized according to local dynamics. FETÖ as an International Threat 7 » FETÖ engages in organized unlawful activities and forms parallel state The U.S. is structures in the countries it operates in as the group members can mas- currently the center terfully disguise themselves. Considering acts of other modern cultist organizations and the fact that FETÖ is formed on the basis of a mo- of FETÖ’s activities dern cultist mindset, the threat FETÖ poses to these countries can be around the globe. better understood. Besides, FETÖ has » The U.S. is currently the center of FETÖ’s activities around the globe managed to build a due to the permanent residence of the leader of the organization Fethul- strong presence in lah Gülen in the country. The organization has extensive networks of many EU member schools and businesses in the U.S., as well as an economic volume of states. billions of dollars. As part of these networks, there are more than 140 FETÖ schools in the U.S. More than 60 thousand students receive an education in these schools every year. At the same time, through eco- nomic activities FETÖ has an overall annual revenue exceeding 500 million dollars in the U.S. Thanks to its networks in the U.S., FETÖ is able to contact the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate members and engage in anti-Turkish activities. » In parallel to Turkey’s close relations with the EU, FETÖ has now also managed to build a strong presence in many EU member states . It has been FETÖ’s aim to use the close relations Turkey has developed with the EU as well as the EU’s political influence in international politics for its own purposes. Moreover, especially after the 2016 coup attempt, the willingness of the EU to firstly shelter FETÖ members, both those already living in their countries as well as those fleeing from law en- forcement in Turkey, and secondly providing them with any aid they require for their organization, have been the primary reasons for the terrorist organization’s decision to choose Europe as one of the impor- tant centers for its global network. » FETÖ has been active in the Balkan countries and has built an effective organization in the region over the years. The organization is active in fields such as education, tourism, media and publishing, and has signi- ficant influence in the bureaucracies of the region due to the presence of graduates from FETÖ schools now working in the public sectors in Balkan countries. According to reports from different sources, the 8 FETÖ as an International Threat As part of its number of students receiving an education in schools operating under the control of FETÖ in the Balkans is around 20.000 in total, most new strategy, of whom are in Kosovo, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Romania. FETÖ maintains Along with activities in the field of education, the presence of FETÖ in its unlawful the Balkans also aims to reach its target audiences and gain new mem- activities through bers through its non-governmental organizations. Around 33 non-go- crypto-schools vernmental organizations are known to be under FETÖ’s control in the and associations Balkans. located in various » FETÖ, just like in all other regions it is active in, has engaged in media activities with the purpose of spreading its ideology and reaching large countries. masses in the Middle East. The most prominent organizations of FETÖ in this context are Zaman Arabic, Gulen Arabic and the Hira Magazine. » Having started its activities in the field of education in Africa in 1994, by 2016 FETÖ already had 110 educational institutions at primary and secondary school levels and a university under its control in Africa.