German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier urged Turkey to limit the duration of the state of emergency and to exercise restraint in its political response to the failed coup, Reuters reported.
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Amnesty International said Sunday that it has “credible evidence” that some detainees in Turkey are being beaten, tortured, raped, and denied food, water and medical treatment.
It comes after a state of emergency was brought in during the week. By some estimates, nearly 50,000 public officials, including judges and academics, were suspended or ordered to resign.
Ankara says the measures are necessary to ensure stability. There will not be any limitation on fundamental rights and freedoms during the state of emergency.
Working furiously to consolidate his power after surviving a coup attempt last week, Turkish President Tayyip Recep Erdogan has closed thousands of private schools, unions and charities.
A planned meeting of the military council has been brought forward.
President Barack Obama yesterday said the U.S. would take seriously any “evidence” of wrongdoing by the preacher, whose followers have long had a strong presence in Turkey’s police and civil service. Erdogan said that the soldiers who participated in the coup would “pay a heavy price for their treason”. Thousands of other service personnel, including more than 100 generals and admirals, remain in detention. PURGES Turkish authorities have already launched a series of mass purges of the armed forces, police, judiciary and education system, targeting followers of Gulen, who operates an extensive network of schools and charitable foundations.
More than 10,000 people have been arrested in Turkey since a faction within the army led an abortive takeover attempt on July 15 in which at least 265 people were killed.
It is expected to be ratified by parliament, where Erdogan’s AKP party holds the majority.
It is the first time a relative of Gulen has been reported detained since the July 15 events.
Erdogan accuses Gulen of being behind the coup attempt and has requested his extradition from the United States. Lawyers say that process could take many years. Turkey, as a moderate Islamic state, a member of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and, in effect, the bridge and a barrier between Asia and Europe, is a major linchpin of US relations with two critical regions, the Middle East and Europe.
But in its first major release of suspects amid global criticism of the crackdown, Turkey on Saturday set free 1,200 low-ranking soldiers in Ankara.
Gulen and his supporters have said the government is using the state of emergency “to solidify his power and persecute his critics”. Shortly after the failed coup, Somali authorities said they were closing Gulen-linked projects in their country.
Turkey has also suspended the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
“Due to their deviant ideology and hidden motives, Turkey believes that the organizational posses a national security threat not just in Turkey, but to all countries” she urged. However, strong concern has also been expressed over the extent of the subsequent purges of state institutions.
The military bases across Turkey will be moved out of city centers, the prime minister said, adding that Turkish gendarmerie will be connected to the interior ministry. Larry is our main news editor.
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Based in the UK, Larry is passionate about all things news and technology related.
