News / Turkey

More than 15,000 detained over failed coup: Turkey

Wednesday, 27 July 2016 3:58 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 27 July 2016 3:58 PM ]

A detained Turkish soldier who allegedly took part in the July 15, 2016 coup attempt arrives with his hands bound behind his back at the Istanbul Justice Palace on July 20. (AFP)

Turkey’s interior minister says more than 15,000 people, including 10,000 soldiers, have been detained in the country in the wake of the failed coup of July 15.

Broadcaster CNN Turk on Wednesday cited Efkana Ala as saying that a total of 8,113 people have also been formally arrested pending trial.

Turkey has issued arrest warrants for nearly 50 journalists in relation to the failed coup.

The journalists worked for Turkey’s major newspaper, Zaman, which was seized by authorities back in March. The opposition paper is linked to the US-based cleric, Fethullah Gulen, who is accused of masterminding the coup attempt.

Turkish media reports say the government is planning to fire 21,000 private school teachers. They are believed to have ties to the Gulen movement.

Turkey has so far thrown thousands of people behind bars and dismissed about 60,000 judges, police officers, teachers, and civil employees from their jobs.

Crackdown 'not completed': Turkish prime minister

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has warned that the government crackdown in connection with the coup attempt is "not completed yet" and there could be more arrests.

"The investigation is continuing. There are people who are being searched for. There could be new apprehensions, arrests and detentions," Yildirim told Sky News in an interview on Wednesday, adding, "The process is not completed yet."

This handout picture taken and released by the press office of Turkey’s prime minister on July 22, 2016, shows soldiers standing guard as Prime Minister Binali Yildirim (L) visits the Police Special Operation Department's Headquarters in Golbasi district in Ankara. (AFP)

Yildirim said Turkey was "determined" to secure the extradition of Gulen, adding, "We shared all the details with them (US authorities) and, from this point on, the task falls on the shoulders of the US government."

The premier also stated that the government could not ignore growing calls for the re-introduction of the death penalty for the alleged coup plotters.

"This is the only voice that we hear in all the squares," Yildirim said, noting, "Turkey is a democratic country, we are governed by democracy and there are requests of the nation. We cannot make this fall on deaf ears."

The European Union has warned that Turkey would be barred from joining the EU if it reintroduces the death penalty.

Turkey has also urged the EU to stay away from its internal affairs as the bloc continues to criticize Ankara over the post-coup crackdown.

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