Turkey has sentenced a dual national NASA scientist to seven and a half years in prison on charges of being a member of the Fethullah Gülen network. 37-year-old Serkan Gülge, who holds Turkish and American citizenship, was employed by NASA. According to the German news agency, Gülge was arrested shortly after the failed coup in Turkey in 2016. He has been accused of espionage and terrorist activities. In response to the ruling, Heather Nauert, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, expressed deep concern over the situation of the NASA scientist, stating that his sentence was issued 'without credible evidence.' Turkey considers Fethullah Gülen, a dissident cleric residing in the U.S., to be the mastermind behind the failed coup and has requested his extradition. Gülen has denied these accusations. Following the failed coup in 2016, tens of thousands of people in Turkey were arrested or dismissed from their jobs on charges of having connections to Gülen's network. The U.S. State Department spokesperson further stated that Washington is closely monitoring the case of Serkan Gülge and other dual nationals. Nauert also emphasized that the ongoing state of emergency in Turkey and trials under this status have raised serious concerns about the independence of the judiciary in Turkey. The spokesperson expressed concerns regarding the travel of U.S. citizens to Turkey and the safety of American citizens residing in Turkey, urging the Turkish government to end the state of emergency. Relations between Turkey and the U.S. have been tense in recent months. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is scheduled to visit Turkey soon.
Turkey Sentences Dual National NASA Scientist to Seven and a Half Years in Prison
Turkey has sentenced NASA scientist Serkan Gülge to seven and a half years in prison for alleged ties to the Gülen network, raising concerns from the U.S. State Department about the fairness of the trial and the independence of Turkey's judiciary. This case highlights the ongoing tensions between Turkey and the U.S. following the 2016 coup attempt.
👥 Key Players
⚡ Actions
📰 What Happened
Turkey sentenced NASA scientist Serkan Gülge to 7.5 years for alleged Gülen network ties.
- Turkey indict Serkan Gülge
- U.S. State Department express concern Serkan Gülge
- Turkey request extradition Fethullah Gülen
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The sentencing of a dual national NASA scientist underscores the strained U.S.-Turkey relations.
📝 Key Evidence
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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