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Turkey releases 2 Indonesian students related to Gulen-inspired association
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Supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wave their national flags and hold a portrait of Fethullah Gulen, a US-based Muslim cleric with Turkish words that read: "the Coup nation traitor, FETO" (Feto is Gulen's nickname), during a pro-government rally at Kizilay Main Square, in Ankara, Turkey, July 20. (AP/Hussein Malla)
T
he Turkish government has released two Indonesian students who were arrested during a crackdown against anything related to Fethullah Gulen, a US-based Muslim cleric accused of masterminding a failed coup in Turkey last month.
"They were both released after proven to not have links with the Hizmet group, accused of orchestrating the failed coup," the Foreign Ministry's director for the protection of Indonesian nationals and entities abroad, Lalu Muhammad Iqbal, said in a statement on Friday.
The two students, Dwi Puspita Ari Wijayanti and Yumelda Ulan Afrilian, had been handed over earlier this month by the prosecutors to Indonesian Embassy officials who had traveled to Bursa, some 325 kilometers west of Ankara, to meet them. They were currently residing at the Indonesian ambassador's house in Ankara, Iqbal said in a statement on Friday.
"They are in a healthy state despite being visibly tired. They have both already spoken with their parents over the phone," Ambassador Wardana said in the statement.
Dwi and Yumelda were arrested on Aug. 11 in Bursa, at a home managed by the Pacific Countries Social and Economic Solidarity Association (PASIAD) that was linked to Gulen. As many as 35 other students who were grantees of the PASIAD scholarship were temporarily residing at the ambassador's home since they no longer were receiving funds from the foundation. Embassy officials are to maintain communications with the Turkish government to ensure the safety of all Indonesians, especially students of the PASIAD.
