Ankara says the coup was masterminded by the US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen and the legal crackdown appears to be targeting individuals suspected of any connection to him.
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Anadolu Agency said Tuesday that those formally arrested include former air force commander Gen. Akin Ozturk, alleged to be the ringleader of the July 15 uprising, and Gen. Adem Hududi, commander of Turkey’s 2nd Army, which is charge of countering possible threats to Turkey from Syria, Iran and Iraq. Gulen denied any involvement.
In an intriguing twist, a Turkish official said two Turkish pilots who played a role in the downing of a Russian plane in November that led to a crisis in ties between Moscow and Ankara are in custody over the failed coup.
The drastic post-coup actions have some speculating Erdogan will revive Turkey’s death penalty, which was abolished in 2004.
“Some news reports, and, unfortunately, some public figures, have speculated that the United States in some way supported the coup attempt”, Bass said in a statement.
“While it is understandable, and legitimate, that the government wishes to investigate and punish those responsible for this bloody coup attempt, they must abide by the rule of law and respect freedom of expression”, said Amnesty’s Turkey researcher Andrew Gardner.
The latest restrictions come a day after the board ordered the resignation of 1,577 university deans and the education ministry revoked the licences of 21,000 teachers working in private institutions.
More than 50,000 state employees have been rounded up, sacked or suspended in the days since the coup attempt.
Erdogan blames a network of followers of a US-based cleric, Fethullah Gulen, for Friday night’s attempted coup, in which more than 230 people were killed as soldiers commandeered fighter jets, military helicopters and tanks to try to overthrow the government.
“If there were accurate intelligence they could prevent the coup attempt”, Erdogan said.
But at a press conference tonight, Erdogan insisted the move was fully in line with Turkey’s constitution and did not violate the rule of law.
Turkey is increasing pressure on the United States to extradite Gulen, who said the accusations that he was behind the failed coup are “ridiculous”.
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After President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke to his U.S. counterpart over the phone, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the United States had offered its assistance but urged Turkey to show restraint.
