Chief of General Staff Gen. İlker Başbuğ recently said the allegations in the Sledgehammer plot were the most serious allegations the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) has faced so far.
Doğan’s lawyer, Celal Ülgen, speaking at a news conference at the İstanbul courthouse in Beşiktaş yesterday, said: “Contrary to what Başbuğ thinks, the Sledgehammer plot includes the most invalid allegations. I wish Başbuğ had listened to the issue from me,” he said, while noting that his client also thinks the same way about Başbuğ’s statement.
The Sledgehammer plot, which was revealed early this year, mentions subversive plans such as bombing the most-frequented mosques in İstanbul in an attempt to trigger chaos in the country to provide a pretext for military intervention. The plan led to a nationwide outcry, with many calling for the authorities to punish those behind it, but some had suspicions that the plan was fabricated to defame the military.
In mid-February, Doğan told an Internet news portal that the Sledgehammer plan was prepared within the knowledge of military generals, adding that the TSK is charged with protecting the republic against all sorts of internal and external threats. The retired general, however, contradicted his statements on a TV program the very same day. He accused certain media of working to discredit the armed forces. “Only insane people can prepare such a [Sledgehammer] plan. And only insane people can publish it in their newspaper. It is very wrong to expect the TSK to be implicated in such plans,” he stated.
“Everything is obvious. There is a legal seminar in question and the voice recordings of that seminar. When those voice recordings are deciphered by prosecutors, they will learn all the details and that no plan like the Sledgehammer exists. Which part of this is serious? Those seeing this seminar as serious should answer this,” Ülgen said.
Ülgen also claimed that the Sledgehammer plan was fabricated in 2003 after the seminar and that controversial parts were added to it. He also said Doğan would write a letter to the media in which he would respond to the charges against him with regard to his involvement in the Sledgehammer plan.
