The Armed Forces Chief of General Staff, General Hulusi Akar, described the renegade soldiers as “the vile, uniformed traitors (who) damaged our country, people and our armed forces in a major way”. Erdogan has blamed Gulen and his supporters for planning the coup.
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The decree authorizes the closure of 1,043 private schools, 1,229 charities and foundations, 19 trade unions, 15 universities and 35 medical institutions over suspected links to the Gulen movement, the Anadolu agency said.
And after rounding up almost 300 officers of the presidential guard over suspected links to the coup, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim announced that Turkey planned to disband the 2,500-strong unit, saying there was “no need” for the elite regiment.
Prime Minister Binali Yildirim also announced Saturday that Turkey will disband the elite presidential guard after detaining nearly 300 of its members in the wake of last week’s coup attempt.
Turkish ministers have taken to media, Twitter and conference calls with investors to insist the state of emergency is aimed exclusively at those associated with the coup, that life for ordinary people won’t be affected and that economic reforms will continue.
CHP officials are estimating a million people will attend tonight’s rally, which is aimed at showing a united front against the attempted coup staged by factions within the Turkish military.
He rejected the European criticism of his iron-fisted response to the coup, charging that “they are biased, they are prejudiced, and they will continue to act in this prejudiced manner towards Turkey”.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has invited leaders of some of Turkey’s political parties to the presidential palace in Ankara to thank them for their stance against the coup attempt on July 15.
Some members of the air force were involved in the coup attempt, during which Akar was held hostage.
Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said in an interview with Turkey’s Kanal 7 television station Sunday that anyone who suggests the coup attempt was staged likely had a role in the insurrection, which was defeated by loyalist forces and pro-government protesters. He strongly denies the claim.
In his decree, Erdogan extended to a maximum of 30 days from four days the period in which some suspects can be detained. The state of emergency declared by Erdogan gives his government the ability to declare laws without parliamentary support while suspending civil rights and freedoms arbitrarily as the government decides.
Turkey had already on Saturday detained one of Gulen’s nephews. President Barack Obama says the USA has an extradition process and has encouraged Turkey to present any evidence it has.
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The prime minister elaborated that around 13,000 people were arrested, among who were 1,329 police officers, 8,831 soldiers, 2,100 judges and prosecutors and 689 civilians.
