The deadly coup attempt began late on Friday when rogue elements of the Turkish military tried to overthrow the country’s democratically elected government.
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Further details were not provided-but as Bloomberg notes, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has had a rocky relationship with academics all year, putting many on trial for criticizing the government’s handling of tension with Turkish Kurds in the southeast.
Turkey’s president has declared a three-month state of emergency following a failed coup.
“While it is understandable, and legitimate, that the government wishes to investigate and punish those responsible for this bloody coup attempt, they must abide by the rule of law and respect freedom of expression”, said Amnesty’s Turkey researcher Andrew Gardner.
About 10,000 people are accused of supporting the coup, and 50,000 or more accused of backing Gulen, Peter says.
Turkey’s National Security Council – the highest advisory body on security issues – was holding an extraordinary meeting followed by a previously unscheduled cabinet meeting on Wednesday, after which Erdogan said an “important decision” would be announced.
President Barack Obama and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan discussed the status of U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, blamed by Turkish authorities for masterminding a recent failed coup, during a call on Tuesday, the White House said. “We will present them with more evidence than they want”, Binali Yildirim told the parliament. “We have taken all the steps necessary to prevent such an event”, he said.
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“This parallel terrorist organisation will no longer be an effective pawn for any country”, he said, referring to what the government has long alleged is a state within a state controlled by Mr Gulen’s followers. Among those jailed in the coup attempt were 85 generals and admirals – including its suspected ringleader, former air force commander Gen. Akin Ozturk, and Turkish Army Gen. Adem Hududi. However, the president signalled that he may be willing to backtrack amid the crackdown on those who launched the coup. Buoyed by Turkey’s pivotal role in managing the refugee crisis out of Syria, Erdogan has been able to exact concessions from Europe, including widening latitude in cracking down on the media and imprisoning the political opposition, along with constitutional reforms.
