Turkey’s president has called on a group of businessmen to inform authorities about anyone they suspect of being a follower of a USA -based Muslim cleric accused of orchestrating Turkey’s failed July 15 coup.
Advertisement
Turkish officials don’t appear to be keen on backing away from the allegations, with pro-government newspapers accusing the US-based Woodrow Wilson Center of being in on the coup, and the Justice Ministry issuing a statement warning that the USA is risking bilateral relations by not handing over exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen.
The July 15 coup attempt in Turkey has left more than 200 people dead.
Turkey’s Justice Minister has said 16,000 people have been detained following last month’s failed coup attempt.
The coup attempt took place while Erdogan was on a family holiday in southern Turkey and saw both the parliament and the area around the presidential palace bombed from the air.
Bozdag said if the U.S. did not extradite Gulen, relations between the two would be negatively affected despite being “two friendly countries” at present.
Minister Bekir Bozdag also told state-run Anadolu Agency on Tuesday that anti-American sentiment in Turkey had reached “its peak” over the issue of cleric Fethullah Gulen’s return.
Ankara has accused Gulen and his followers of playing a key role in the coup.
Advertisement
Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said 25,000 new teachers and police officers would be employed after the purge to fill gaps created in state institutions.
