AKP were aware of July 15 coup attempt four months in advance, Islamist columnist claims

Pro-government Islamist writer Abdurrahman Dilipak has claimed in a social media post that the ruling AKP knew of the July 15, 2016 failed coup attempt four months in advance. Over 250 people died and scores of others were wounded when confronting coup soldiers on the streets during the attempt that is widely believed to have been orchestrated by the Gülen network which Ankara calls the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ).

Duvar English

Turkish pro-government and Islamist columnist Abdurrahman Dilipak on Feb. 18 claimed that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) were aware of the July 15, 2016 failed coup attempt four months in advance.

In a social media post, Dilipak said “FETÖ members act as if they did not attempt the coup and the AKP members act as if they were unaware of the coup and suppressed it at the last moment with the help of the people.” 

“However, the government knew in detail about the coup four months in advance. The people took to the streets against the coup without knowing what was happening. In the end, what happened to this country. It is a pity that no one cares about the truth, everyone is busy blaming others,” he added.

The 75-year-old Dilipak is known as a pro-government columnist who sometimes criticizes the AKP.

More than 250 people were killed and scores of others were wounded on July 15, 2016, when putschist soldiers commandeered warplanes, helicopters, and tanks and sought to take control of state institutions and overthrow the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. A number of key questions on how it was staged still remains unanswered. 

The coup attempt is widely believed to have been orchestrated by U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen whose movement, officially called the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), is an ally-turned-foe of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the ruling AKP. Their ties were strained in 2013 following a graft probe.

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