Malaysia sends back 'Gülen suspects'

kuala lumpur - The Malaysian authorities have expelled three Turkish citizens to their home country on Thursday. The trio is suspected of tensions with the movement of Islamic spiritual Fethullah Gülen, held by Ankara for the failed coup last year.

It is a 43-year-old school director, a 39-year-old businessman, a 58-year-old academic. According to Malaysia, the trio constituted a threat to state security. An investigation by the Malaysian police showed that they were indeed involved in activities of the Gülen movement.

Also, Ankara had withdrawn men's travel documents. 'Therefore, their stay in Malaysia was illegal,' said a police officer.

The school director's wife had called on the authorities in vain to expel her husband to another country. Human rights organizations and the United Nations also opposed the expulsion. They warned that the men might be tortured in their home country.