Turkish PM says US should 'speed up' cleric's extradition

Published August 20, 2016

A woman checks her cell phone as she passes outside Marmara University Theological School mosque in Istanbul, Friday, Aug. 19, 2016. Turkey accuses U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen of masterminding the July 15th coup and has launched a massive crackdown on his movement, detaining more than 40,000 people and dismissing tens of thousands from government jobs. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) (The Associated Press)

Turkey's prime minister says his government wants the United States to speed up procedures for the extradition of U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Turkey accuses of orchestrating last month's violent coup attempt.

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told foreign media representatives Saturday that Turkey and the United States have an extradition agreement and the process should not be delayed.

He says "we want the process to be accelerated ... this man was the leader of the coup. What are we waiting for? The agreement between the two countries is clear."

Washington has asked for evidence of Gulen's involvement and says the regular extradition process must take its course.

The cleric has denied involvement in the July 15 coup that killed more than 270 people.

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https://www.foxnews.com/world/turkish-pm-says-us-should-speed-up-clerics-extradition