Turkey Requests Germany to Extradite Suspect Involved in Failed Coup

Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkey's Foreign Minister, stated on Wednesday that Germany has been asked to extradite one of the main suspects of last year's failed coup. According to Reuters, the Turkish government has sent a diplomatic letter to the German government requesting the extradition of Adil Oksuz. The Turkish government claims that Adil Oksuz was the 'imam' of Turkish Air Force personnel who bombed the country's parliament. Turkish officials say that Adil Oksuz was arrested at an airbase near Ankara following the failed coup on July 15 of last year, but a court president issued a release order two days later, and he has been a fugitive since. Turkish media reports that Adil Oksuz currently lives in Frankfurt and has been granted temporary residency by the state of Baden-Württemberg. Adil Oksuz is said to be a supporter of Fethullah Gülen, an opposition cleric currently residing in the United States, whom the Turkish government blames as the main instigator of last year's coup, although Gülen denies any involvement. According to the Associated Press, Mevlut Cavusoglu stated, 'If this individual is present there, we demand his arrest and extradition to Turkey.' Meanwhile, Martin Schaefer, a spokesperson for the German Foreign Ministry, confirmed on Wednesday that Berlin has received Turkey's letter and request and is reviewing it. However, the spokesperson emphasized that it is unclear whether Adil Oksuz is in Germany. Schaefer added that Germany is aware of the allegations against Adil Oksuz. Turkey's request for extradition comes amid deteriorating relations between the two countries in recent months. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has recently accused Germany of aiding terrorists by not responding to thousands of cases sent to Berlin. Erdogan stated, 'We provided (Angela) Merkel with 4,500 cases, but we have not received a response even for one of them.' Turkey accuses Germany of harboring militants affiliated with Kurdish groups and leftist forces. Additionally, several Turkish military personnel have sought asylum in Germany following the failed coup last year. In this context, Erdogan accused Germany of supporting 'terrorists.' The German Foreign Minister announced a change in Berlin's policy towards Turkey, and there have been recent arrest warrants issued for dozens of others accused of involvement in the Turkish coup. The trial of hundreds of suspects involved in the failed coup of July 2016 in Turkey has begun.