Turk says cleric’s role in coup try proved

ANKARA, Turkey — The head of a Turkish parliamentary investigative committee said Friday that there was no question that U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen was behind last year’s failed military coup.

The ruling party-dominated committee investigating the July coup attempt had “concrete and solid” evidence pointing to Gulen’s involvement, lawmaker Resat Petek said. He was speaking at a news conference to present the findings of a report that is expected to be published after opposition members lodge their views and possible objections.

“We have reached information and documents that leave no space for hesitation,” Petek told reporters, adding that the conclusion about Gulen’s role was based on information that included confessions, details of communications between alleged coup-plotters and witness accounts.

Gulen, 76, a former ally and now foe of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has condemned the coup attempt and denied he was involved. He acknowledged that some of his supporters may have participated in the uprising.

AP Turkish lawmaker Restat Petek said Friday in Ankara that evidence was “concrete and solid” that U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen was involved in last year’s coup attempt.