A court in Ankara on Wednesday sentenced a former top Turkish judicial official to 11 years and three months in prison on terrorism charges, state news agency Anadolu reported.
Alparslan Altan was convicted of being a member of “armed terrorist organisation” of FETO, an acronym the Turkish government uses for the movement of Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen.
Turkey blames U.S.-based Gulen and his movement for a failed coup by a faction in the military in July 2016.
Ankara also considered Gulen’s movement to be a terrorist organization and has arrested thousands of people with alleged connections to him.
Altan was the deputy chief judge of the Turkish Constitutional Court and has been in pre-trial detention since shortly after the abortive 2016 putsch.
“Altan is separately accused of maintaining contact with alleged secret Imams, whom the government believes had directed Gulen followers inside the army.
“Altan, who denied the charges, remains behind bars and can appeal the court decision,’’ Anadolu added.
