Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan addresses his supporters outside of his residence in Istanbul, Turkey, early July 19, 2016, in this handout photo provided by the Presidential Palace. Unfortunately, for Erdogan, “Turkish democracy” has conveniently become a toy for his own use.
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The president’s decision came following a meeting with his Cabinet ministers and top security advisers.
“This measure is in no way against democracy, the law and freedoms”, he added. “On the contrary it aims to protect and strengthen them“.
The state broadcaster TRT said all university deans had been ordered to resign, recalling the sorts of broad purges seen in the wake of successful military coups of the past. Binali Yildirim told NTV television: “it is correct that there was an attempt”. He said there was no liquidity problem in Turkey’s strong financial sector. The emergency rule was gradually lifted by 2002.
The latest insurrection by some military units was launched late Friday, but security forces and protesters loyal to the government quashed the rebellion.
Officials on Wednesday raised the death toll from the violence surrounding the coup attempt to 240 government supporters.
He said Obama “reiterated once again the strong commitment of the United States to the democratically elected civilian government of Turkey” and commended the Turkish people’s effort in “defending the government and repelling the coup” last week.
Turkey vowed to root out allies of the USA -based cleric it blames for an abortive coup last week, widening a purge of the army, police and judiciary on Tuesday to universities and schools, the intelligence agency and religious authorities. “The terrorist organisation was trying to make the minority dominate the majority”, Erdogan told the Al Jazeera channel in an interview translated into English. Relations between our countries are based on interests, not feelings. The cleric’s movement, which espouses moderation and multi-faith harmony, says it is a scapegoat for what it describes as the president’s increasingly autocratic conduct. “Canada urges Turkey to comply fully with its relevant obligations under worldwide human rights law”, Dion said. “How they will fill the vacancies, I don’t know”.
A Greek court has sentenced eight Turkish military personnel who fled to Greece aboard a helicopter during an attempted coup in their country to two months in prison on charges of illegal entry into Greece.
Erdogan’s spokesman said on Tuesday the government was preparing a formal request to the United States for the extradition of Gulen.
The new measures are also expected to help the government cleanse the civil service of those it suspects of being sympathizers of Fethullah Gulen, a USA -based Turkish cleric and one-time ally of Erdogan, whose movement was designated a terrorist organization by the Ankara government in May.
The base, which is used by a US-led coalition fighting so-called Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, has been without power since the coup attempt.
Turkey has temporarily banned all academics from leaving the country.
On Tuesday, authorities shut down media outlets deemed to be supportive of the cleric and said 15,000 people had been fired from the education ministry, 492 from the Religious Affairs Directorate, 257 from the prime minister’s office and 100 intelligence officials.
Those moves come after the detention of more than 6,000 members of the armed forces, from foot soldiers to commanders, and the suspension of close to 3,000 judges and prosecutors.
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Turkish state media say a further 32 judges and two military officers have been detained by authorities during the crackdown on alleged conspirators following last week’s failed coup.
