Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) speaks with relatives of martyrs and veterans during the opening ceremony of Bestepe National Congress&Culture Center and commemoration of those martyred in July 15 coup attempt, in Ankara, Turkey on July 29, 2016. “And then they say that ‘Erdogan has got so angry.’ Those countries or leaders who are not anxious about Turkey’s democracy, the lives of our people, its future – while being so anxious about the fate of the putschists – can not be our friends”.
Advertisement
The decision would be announced in the government’s official gazette by Sunday. Over 240 people were killed and more than 2,000 injured during the failed coup excluding the victims among the plotters, according to the country’s authorities.
The Pentagon on Friday flatly rejected allegations by Turkey’s president that the USA military was somehow involved in or in any way supported the recent failed coup in that country.
Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since the late 1990s, has denied any involvement in or prior knowledge of the coup. So far, more than 60,000 people in the military, judiciary, civil service and schools have been either detained, removed or suspended over suspected links with Gulen. “Any country and any leader who does not worry about the life of Turkish people and our democracy as much as they worry about the fate of coupists are not our friends”, said Erdogan, who narrowly escaped capture and perhaps death on the night of the coup.
The U.S. has voiced concerns about “the longer-term impact” of the coup attempt on U.S. relations with the Turkish military and vehemently rejected assertions by Erdogan that the U.S. military was siding with plotters of the failed coup. The US-based cleric denies the allegation.
President Erdogan has also stepped up his attacks on nations criticising his actions, telling them to “mind your own business”.
The United States has repeatedly condemned the failed coup in Turkey and it continues to convey its absolute support for Turkey’s democratically elected civilian government and democratic institutions, Cook emphasized.
On Saturday, 56 employees of Turkey’s constitutional court were suspended from their jobs as part of the investigation into the alleged coup, private broadcaster Haberturk TV reported.
Earlier, the Turkish government cancelled the passports of around 50,000 people to prevent them leaving the country.
Erdogan has said that Gulen harnessed his extensive network of schools, charities and businesses, built up in Turkey and overseas over decades, to create a “parallel state” that aimed to take over the country.
Advertisement
The government is now going after Gulen’s network of schools and other institutions overseas.
