Turkish Defense Ministry has fired or suspended over 4,200 military personnel since the failed coup attempt this summer. Many teachers, doctors, nurses, and others suspected of having ties to Muhammed Fethullah Gülen, the alleged man behind the coup attempt, have also been dismissed.
The attempted seizure of the government by military took place on the evening of July 15 with the rebels attacking government institutions and clashing with police and civilians in the streets. Severe violence erupted in Istanbul and the capital city Ankara. The ill-fated Friday saw the killing of more than 260 people and around 2,200 were injured. The attempt was prevented by the military loyal to the government along with police units and millions of people in favor of democracy.
In another development, EU Commission VP has stated that the role of Gülen’s terror group in the coup attempt is not deniable. During a visit to Turkey in late September, British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Boris Johnson too had mentioned, “The incidents in July were absolute violence, anti-democratic and ill-minded and the best approach would be suppressing this. Now, we must take a serious look in our own country for any signs of the Gülen organization.”
