The fear in many Western capitals is that the mass arrests in Turkey are not about eradicating terrorism, but about marginalising Mr Erdogan’s political opponents, and that the result will be long-term damage to the efficiency of Turkey’s armed forces, among Nato’s most capable. “And we will clean it out”.
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The fight against coup plotters “should not be turned into a witch hunt”, Ozev said. But it said the vast majority of its members had nothing to do with Friday’s plot and that the “traitors” would be punished severely.
Many Turks critical of Erdogan are keeping a low profile as the post-coup purge unfolds, but the president’s supporters appear invigorated.
Erdogan told Obama the proper punishment would be given to those responsible within the framework of justice and the rule of law. Moreover, at least 82 generals and admirals – including the accused ringleader, Gen.
On Tuesday, foreign media were taken on a tour of government buildings that were targeted by F-16 air strikes, including the headquarters of the Turkish special forces police where 47 officers were killed.
– 1,577 university deans have been asked to resign.
The latest purges were meant to blunt the influence of Gulen, an Erodgan rival who has been in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since the late 1990s and who the government has long accused of being behind a “parallel terrorist organization”.
In other developments, a soldier allegedly linked to the attack on a hotel where Erdogan had been vacationing during the foiled coup was arrested in southwestern Turkey, the state agency Anadolu reported Thursday.
The government will use its enhanced powers in the interests of democracy, and “there will be no restrictions on rights and freedoms”, Erdogan told a rally on Wednesday night.
The most recent emails were sent on July 6 and the oldest dates back to 2010, WikiLeaks said. “We can say that by not accepting the offer, he paved the way for its failure”, the agency quoted Turkkan as saying.
Amnesty International described the authorities’ actions as “a crackdown of exceptional proportions”.
“Turkey’s people are still reeling from the shocking events of the weekend and it is vital that press freedom and the unhindered circulation of information are protected, rather than stifled”. Turkey’s Family and Social Policy Ministry said it dismissed 393 personnel. The total fired or suspended is around 50,000 people. “I hope the state of emergency is honest and gets rid of [the Gulen movement]” he said.
Erdogan was in the Aegean resort of Marmaris when the coup struck.
The abortive coup began late on July 15 when a faction of the Turkish military declared it was in control of the country and the government was no more in charge.
Under the U.S. -Turkey extradition agreement, Washington can only extradite a person if he or she has committed an “extraditable act”. Earnest added that a decision on whether to extradite would be made under a longstanding treaty between the two countries, and wouldn’t be made by Obama.
The Muslim cleric has denied any involvement in the coup attempt. In response, US Secretary of State John Kerry said that US authorities would investigate and issue a judgment against Gulen if Turkey submits evidence of wrongdoing.
“It is ridiculous, irresponsible and false to suggest I had anything to do with the horrific failed coup”, he reiterated in the statement.
A spokesman for the Turkish government said the United States should be able to extradite the cleric “on grounds of suspicion” rather than requiring specific facts about the case against him.
Fethullah Gulen has dismissed as doomed to fail Ankara’s bid to extradite him from the United States over a failed coup attempt.
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Kurtulmus said the coup had claimed a total of 265 lives, including 24 plotters and 241 citizens and members of he security forces who opposed them.
