One of six military officers who confessed their ties to the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) told prosecutors how his "brother" in the group instructed him to obey the orders of his putschist superiors during last year's July 15 coup attempt. FETÖ is accused of masterminding the putsch attempt through its infiltrators in all ranks of the army.

Six officers, who were detained in operations against the terrorist group in 12 provinces in recent weeks, invoked the remorse law, which grants a reduction in their sentences. Each one gave an account of how they became involved with the group, and what they did during the coup attempt.

An officer identified as Y.U. said he was an on duty noncommissioned officer on July 15 and his "brother" in the group telephoned him that night. The term "brother" refers to FETÖ's point men who commanded small groups of infiltrators in the army. "He told me to comply with what my ‘bosses' said," Y.U. told prosecutors. FETÖ-linked officers personally killed or ordered the killing of unarmed civilians confronting the putschists, police and military officers opposing the coup. Some 249 people were killed by putschists that night.

First Lt. A.Y., who also confessed his links to the group, said his "brother" often questioned him about other officers in his unit and tried to find out whether others were sympathetic to the group.

Noncommissioned officer E.K. said in his testimony that he tried to quit the "cemaat," the name terrorist group called itself, but his superiors in the group threatened him. "They told me they would have me expelled from military school if I said this earlier. They said, ‘We know everything about you. You have brothers and sisters studying. They will not have a career if you quit'."

FETÖ-linked Capt. Ö.S. confessed that he faced a similar attitude when he told "brothers" he would quit the group. "You will be exposed [as a FETÖ member], and you will dismissed from the army if you quit," was what "brothers" told him in response.