Azernews.Az

By Gunay Hasanova

The Azerbaijani General Prosecutor's Office in accordance with the European Convention sent a petition to the Turkish Prosecutor General’s Office, reads a joint statement of the Azerbaijani Prosecutor General’s Office,the Interior Ministry and the State Security Service.

The petition was sent to conduct investigative actions on the Turkish territory to reveal the relations among the representatives of "Hizmet Movement" (Gulen Movement) in Azerbaijan and their supporters in Turkey and other foreign countries, sources of funding and other details.

Earlier, the Azerbaijani Prosecutor General’s Office, the Interior Ministry and State Security Service created a joint operational-investigative group.

The group was created as part of the criminal case filed August 12 in connection with the investigation and prevention of illegal acts to propagandize the Gulen Movement in Azerbaijan, the incitement of social, religious hatred and hostility, restriction of the rights of citizens.

An Istanbul court ordered on August 4 to arrest Fethullah Gulen, who is accused of organizing the military coup attempt in Turkey.

Meanwhile, the Azerbaijani State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations announced that it does not allow the import of religious materials containing ideas of Fethullah Gulen

"We have carried out discussion regarding the activities of the Gulen supporters years ago. Even before the recent developments in Turkey, we predicted the possibility of intervention of this organization in the activities of the state by involving the numbers of intelligent and educated people. Recent events in Turkey showed that for the implementation of its plan this group may appeal to such measures as a coup and rebellion," said Head of theological expertise department of the State Committee Nahid Mammadov.

He said that in Azerbaijan the struggle with this group began earlier than in Turkey.

The July 15 coup attempt occurred when rogue elements in the Turkish military tried to overthrow the country's democratically elected government.

Turkey's government has repeatedly said the deadly plot, which martyred at least 246 people and injured more than 2,000 others, was organized by followers of U.S.-based preacher Fetullah Gulen.

The General Staff of Turkish Armed Forces has said that 8,651 servicemen of the armed forces participated in the military coup attempt in the country. The rebels used 35 planes, 37 helicopters, 246 tanks and three vessels during the military coup attempt in Turkey.

Erdogan declared a three-month state of emergency in Turkey on July 20.

--

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz