All four men are on the lists appearing in the Turkish media of people whom President Erdogan and Turkey want extradited.
The men are between 26 and 68 years old and, according to Turkey, have connections to the Gülen movement, which the country considers a terrorist organization. The charges include everything from being a member of an armed terrorist organization and espionage to trying to carry out a coup against the government.
One of the people the government has decided not to extradite to Turkey is Murat Cetiner, who SVT told about earlier. He has a background in the Turkish police where he worked in counter-terrorism.
Feeling guilty
The decision first reached his lawyer, but was confirmed by a government-stamped letter that landed on the hall floor today.
– I am happy about the decision, he says when SVT reaches him.
– But in Turkey, people suffer. In terms of human rights, it’s sensitive for me given what I and my family have been through, but maybe I’ll have a drink with my wife tonight.
Murat Cetiner says that he feels guilty about what his case meant for Sweden and the NATO process.
– Sweden is a peaceful country and I am very happy to live here with my family. I have felt guilty about bringing problems from Turkey and the Middle East. Erdogan is trying to pressure Sweden and Swedish society and our cases have been used as tools.
Accused of attempted coup
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has singled out the Gülen movement as responsible for the failed coup attempt in July 2016, which the movement has denied. The issue of extraditions has become relevant in connection with Sweden’s NATO application. However, the request to have the four men extradited came in 2019 and 2020, long before Sweden submitted its application for NATO membership.
Already this summer, the Supreme Court ruled that there are various obstacles to the extradition of the four men. The obstacles are partly due to the fact that some of the crimes they are accused of are not crimes under Swedish law,