![Members of the Sudanese Army on 18 March 2011 [UNAMID/Flickr]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/2011_3_18-sudan-army5537864258_a3fc12b123_o.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
A prominent Gulen-linked businessman has been arrested by Sudanese law enforcement agencies in Khartoum at the request of Turkish government, according to the Turkey Purge, a Gulenist-sponsored news outlet.
The news outlet claims that the Turkish businessman Memduh Cikmaz was detained last week and has been denied access to his lawyer or visits from family members. Cikmaz, who has business interests in Sudan, is said to be under threat of deportation back to Turkey accused of being involved in the 15 July attempted coup attempt in 2016.
Image of Turkish businessman Memduh Cikmaz
Turkish authorities accuse the Gulen movement of masterminding the foiled coup and have asked the United States to extradite the group’s 76-year-old leader, Fethullah Gullen, who remains in self-imposed exile in the state of Pennsylvania, to stand trial.
According to Gulen-based media, Ankara has submitted a 500-page indictment to Sudan seeking Cikmaz’s deportation and there is growing concern for Cikmaz’s medical condition. He is reported to suffer from a protein related disease and has special dietary requirements.
Sources speaking to MEMO were unable to confirm that Cikmaz was one of three Turkish nationals currently being detained by the Sudanese authorities, but have confirmed that any decision to deport a foreign national would be subject to strict extradition conditions and would be a decision taken at the highest levels of the judiciary and government.