They are accused of having links to USA -based Fetullah Gulen, who is said to have pursued a long-running campaign against the government through supporters within the Turkish state.
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Gulen has denied any knowledge of the failed coup. Gulen encouraged his many followers to support Erdogan, who in turn helped raise the profile of Gulen, who runs a vast network of Islamic schools worldwide.
The government says a USA -based Muslim cleric was behind the coup.
Over the last several days, thousands of judges, members of the military, civil servants and police officers have been detained, suspended, or removed from their posts.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says those who have been in arrested in connection with the attempted coup d’état in Turkey should be able to defend themselves in a “robust and legitimate process” in that country.
Tens of thousands of civil service employees, including teachers, accused of ties to the plot or suspected of links to a US -based cleric whom authorities accuse of being the behind the plot, have also been fired.
The Turkish expatriate suspected of orchestrating the failed coup in Turkey from his Pocono Mountains residence is now a wanted man in his homeland.
Erdogan said the state of emergency, which would last three months, would allow his government to take swift and effective measures against supporters of the coup.
Turkey’s Hurriyet newspaper reported on 19 July that the country’s Higher Education Council had ordered the resignation of all deans from both public and foundation universities: 1,176 from state institutions and 401 from foundation institutions, the EUA said in a statement.
Already, he’s arrested more than 6,000 military personnel, along with 103 generals and admirals.
There is some concern within the worldwide community that the ongoing purge of key areas of public life in Turkey will hit the economy and worsen already fraught global relations, in particular with Turkey’s European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation partners. A spokesperson for the Gulen inspired NY based, Alliance for Shared Values also denied suggestions of any involvement, telling the Associated Press, “we categorically deny such accusations and find them to be highly irresponsible”.
Officials on Wednesday raised the death toll from the violence surrounding the coup attempt to 240 government supporters.
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Only proven involvement in illegal acts should trigger action by Turkey, not political affiliation, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said.
