Italy strikes down Gülenist plot against Erdoğan's son


Italian prosecutors asked a court in Bologna to dismiss accusations against Bilal Erdoğan, son of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, after he faced money laundering accusations in what Turkey called a plot by the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ).Bilal Erdoğan was in Bologna for doctoral studies when the lawsuit was filed. Italian news agency ANSA reported that the prosecutors could not find any evidence linking the younger Erdoğan to accusations in the investigation started last February. Quoted by Italian media, Chief Prosecutor Giuseppe Amato said the inquiry stemmed from a complaint by a plaintiff living in France but the unidentified plaintiff refused to testify in the case and they had no choice other than dismissing the accusations for the lack of evidence.Erdoğan was the target of Gülenist media outlets that have claimed he was involved in money laundering in Italy.Like his father, Bilal Erdoğan has been a frequent target of FETÖ, which is accused of trying to overthrow Erdoğan and the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government three times in 2013 and this July. When he left for Italy in 2015, Gülenists claimed he fled the country but he returned soon and denied the allegations.