U.S.-based Islamic scholar Fethullah Gulen, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's ally-turned-nemesis, is being investigated for "attempting to eliminate or prevent the functioning of the government partly or completely" and "forming and managing an illegal organization," Ntvmsnbc has reported.
Erdogan told journalists on April 29 that a legal process will begin for the extradition of Gulen from the United States, signalling that proceedings will be opened against Gulen in order to get the necessary warrant to file the request with U.S. authorities. Ntvmsnbc reported that a prosecutor working at the unit for "crimes against the Constitution" is in charge of the probe against Gulen.
Culture and Tourism Minister Omer Celik told NTV on April 30 that a prosecutor in Ankara initiated the probe after several complaints against Gulen.
"There are serious accusations at the extent of espionage. We saw that they formed a core state within a state, wiretapping even the most private meetings of the government. Prosecuting and revealing these actions are very important for the future of Turkey. They should be probed extensively as a national security problem and the necessary steps should be taken," Celik said.