By Serdar Acil and Tanju Ozkaya
ANKARA (AA) – A relative of a former Turkish sergeant on trial in connection with last year’s coup plot was remanded in custody on Wednesday for attempting to enter a courtroom in Ankara earlier this week wearing a t-shirt bearing the word “hero” in English.
The Ankara Penal Court of Peace remanded Emirhan B., nephew of Halil Ibrahim B. — a Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) suspect.
Emirhan B. was initially detained by police on Monday as he entered the courtroom in Turkey’s capital where his uncle was standing trial.
The suspect claimed he did not know the meaning of the word “hero”.
In a related incident last week, Gokhan Guclu, a suspected FETO member accused of being part of a group that tried to assassinate Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the night of the defeated coup last July, appeared before a court wearing a similar t-shirt.
Turkish ministers have since suggested that suspects in FETO probes wear uniforms when they appear before a judge.
Last Friday, Turkey’s Justice Ministry issued a circular banning clothing from courtrooms which carry any message “promoting terror”, which could “provoke” the public or which could influence the outcome of ongoing cases.
The letter was submitted to all criminal court chief prosecutors in Turkey.
FETO and its U.S.-based leader, Fetullah Gulen, orchestrated the coup plot on July 15, 2016 that left 250 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.
Ankara has also said FETO is behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.
