Turkey has detained more than 282,000, arrested 94,000 since 2016 failed coup

News About Turkey - NAT
2 Min Read

Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu said Wednesday, on the fourth anniversary of a failed military putsch, that a total of 282,790 people have been detained on coup-related charges, with 94,975 of them arrested, since the coup attempt.

In a written statement, he also said 25,912 people among the arrestees were still in jail.

Turkey accuses the faith-based Gülen movement of orchestrating the failed 2016 coup, although it strongly denies any involvement. The Turkish government is the only state that designates the movement as a terrorist organization.

Since July 2016 a large-scale crackdown targeting the followers of the movement has been ongoing, with mass detentions conducted on an almost daily basis.

More than 130,000 public servants were expelled from government jobs and left to a kind of “civil death” since they were subjected to social and economic exclusion due to the stigma put on them by the government, according to a 2017 report drafted by Amnesty International.

Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said Wednesday that more than 20,000 military members have been purged since the failed coup.

Many observers believe Turkey has become a more authoritarian state since the abortive putsch, and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has used it as a pretext to tighten his grip on power.

In a narrowly backed referendum in 2017, Turkey adopted an executive presidency that handed vast powers to Erdoğan while reducing the weight of the Turkish parliament in the political system.

The crackdown on the Gülen movement has reached other segments of Turkish society.

On the night of the coup attempt, 251 civilians were killed in clashes with soldiers.

Source: Turkish Minute

Share This Article
Founded by a small group of Turkish/Kurdish scholars who have been subjected to persecution at the hands of the Erdogan dictatorship, News About Turkey (NAT) has emerged as a platform that is both exceptional and invaluable. Our objective is to provide you with a comprehensive and sophisticated understanding of the events and developments in Turkey (Türkiye), a country with profound historical and geopolitical importance, a vibrant culture, and a strategic location. Our founders, who have been purged by the Erdogan regime after the so-called coup attempt, are aware of the significance of journalism that is both free and independent. Because of this understanding, we are committed to providing reporting and analysis that is both objective and comprehensive. To give you the most thorough coverage of Turkey, we go further than just scratching the surface. Keep in touch with us so that you can have a better understanding of Turkey's developing story as well as vital and comprehensive news items. Whether you are a resident of Turkey, a member of the Turkish/Kurdish diaspora, or simply someone who has a strong interest in this vital country, we are the most reliable source for news that not only informs but also inspires and engages you.
Leave a comment