The suspicious deaths of three writers tied to Gülenist terror group

The suspicious deaths of three journalists and writers, Necip Hablemitoğlu, Haydar Meriç and Aytunç Altındal, who had written or were about to write a book on the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) and its ringleader Fethullah Gülen, were included in a new indictment prepared by İzmir's Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. According to Anadolu Agency (AA), the indictment, prepared by Chief Public Prosecutor Zafer Dur, on three suspects accused of providing financial support to FETÖ included many details about the structure of the terror group along with the suspicious deaths of the writers.

The criminal charge states that following the July 15 failed coup attempt it became clear that FETÖ is an armed group. The indictment also highlights that it is not possible for Gülen, who is a 75-year-old elementary school graduate and has been living in the U.S. since 1999, to spread his influence all over the world and place his followers in crucial positions in the highest state offices all by himself, depending entirely on his talents.

Stating that it is irrational to think an organization could possibly open schools in 160 different countries around the world without any international support, the indictment also highlights the similarities between the date that Gülen fled to the U.S. and the date that the jailed leader of the PKK Abdullah Öcalan who was captured and brought to Turkey during the same year.

The indictment claims that the structure of FETÖ which claims to be a non-governmental organization (NGO_ shares similarities with the structure of U.S.-based cults and references a CIA's report on how these cults become organized which says that cults are built on a structure similar to NGOs; however, their main objective is to change the structure of society by infiltrating educational, economic, medical, political and technological systems.

It has been claimed that the police commissioner who investigated the "parallel structure" of FETÖ in the police department and the promotions of cult members within their departments that were uncovered by writer Necip Hablemitoğlu in his novel "Köstebek" was threatened by FETÖ

The accusations continued to say: "Journalists and writers have constantly been mentioning that FETÖ is a cult working for certain foreign intelligence agencies such as CIA, MI6 and BND who place their own members of these intelligence agencies inthe other countries."… "The suspicious deaths of writer and journalists Writers Hablemitoğlu, Meriç and Altındal who wrote books about FETÖ and the false accusations made about Ahmet Şık, Hanefi Avcı and Nedim Şener who wrote or were about to write a book on the terror cult are also points that should be focused on."

Journalist Haydar Meriç was kidnapped on May 31, 2011 in Kırklareli after he announced that he was about to compile a book on FETÖ. Despite all efforts to find him, his body turned up in Düzce's district of Akçakoca on June 18, 2011. After the death of the journalist, the public prosecutor's office launched an investigation as Meriç was wiretapped after false claims that he was a member of a leftist terror organization. As a part of the investigation, an operation was launched into senior bureaucrats, politicians and members of certain NGOs and nine people were arrested.

Historian and writer Necip Hablemitoğlu was shot in front of his house on Dec. 18, 2002. Following the investigations, it became clear that the murder had been committed by a professional hitman l and was premeditated. It was later discovered that he received various death threats according to telephone and e-mail account records. His book "Köstebek," was published after his death.

Writer and investigative journalist Aytunç Altındal, who wrote various books and articles on religion, philosophy and secret organizations died on Nov. 18, 2013. His family claimed that he was poisoned with Polonium 213; however, it has not yet been officially determined.