Turkey Cries 'Terrorist' Over Political Exiles, Sweden Says 'Nah'
Turkey's state-aligned Daily Sabah laments Sweden's refusal to extradite two individuals Ankara labels as 'FETÖ terrorists'—the Gulenist Terrorist Group. This narrative consistently casts anyone opposing Erdoğan's government as a terrorist, a convenient scapegoat since the failed 2016 coup. Sweden, perhaps remembering due process, found insufficient grounds for extradition, effectively calling
Turkey's bluff on alleged 'terrorism' claims against political dissidents. (Apparently, international law still sometimes trumps political bullying, even for NATO hopefuls.) This isn't about terrorism; it's about Erdoğan's strategic leverage and control. Demanding extraditions has been a recurring theme in Turkey's negotiation tactics, especially concerning Sweden's NATO bid. The 'terrorist'
moniker is applied liberally to journalists, academics, and opposition figures alike, often without the substantiation required in Western courts. One might wonder if Turkey's definition of 'terrorist' simply means 'person who makes Erdoğan look bad.'