The coup plotters sent warplanes firing on key government installations and tanks rolling into major cities, but the rebellion – which was not supported by the military’s top brass -was quashed by loyal government forces and masses of civilians who took to the streets.
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The latest moves into education and the media signal a crackdown that reaches widely across a broad sweep of public and private life in Turkey.
They were accused of links to Fethullah Gulen, a US-based cleric whom the Turkish government claims was behind last Friday’s uprising.
He said while there have been successful takeovers several times throughout Turkey’s history, the main difference this time was scale, describing it as a “reckless attempt to seize power”.
The authorities have since suspended or detained close to 20,000 soldiers, police officers, judges and civil servants.
Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus defended the crackdown on judiciary officials in an interview with CNN-Turk, saying many of them would have played a role had the coup attempt succeeded.
“They want a swift end to it, because people lost relatives, lost neighbors, lost children… they’re suffering so the people are very sensitive and we have to act very sensibly and sensitively”, he added.
Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim confirmed on Tuesday that an official request had been sent to the United States for the extradition of Fethullah Gulen. Gulen is a Muslim cleric living in Pennsylvania in self-exile.
But the Turkish government, which has demanded the extradition of Mr. Gulen while insinuating that the United States may have backed the coup, remains unapologetic.
For his part, Gulen says claims he was behind the coup attempt are “ridiculous”.
“There is no need to prove the coup attempt, all evidence shows (it) was organised on his will and orders”. “One good piece of evidence of that is you promptly saw” all parties of the Turkish parliament condemning the attempted coup – even parties “who have vigorous political disagreements” with the Turkish government.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein also called for independent observers to visit places of detention in Turkey to check on conditions, and for detainees to have access to lawyers and their families.
“It is ridiculous, irresponsible and false to suggest I had anything to do with the horrific failed coup”, he said.
“Today, is there no capital punishment in America?” European leaders have warned Ankara that restoring it would derail its EU aspirations.
Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu cancelled his visit to Washington DC to attend a National Security Council meeting on Wednesday and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that he would issue an “important announcement” following the meeting.
The interior ministry said nearly 9,000 people, including nearly 8,000 police but also municipal governors and other officials, had also been dismissed in a widening purge.
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Turkey has ambitions to join the European Union, but a revival of the death penalty would freeze any discussion of membership.
