This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/19/world/europe/turkey-erdogan-crackdown.html

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Turkey Widens Purge as Crackdown Continues Turkey Widens Purge as Crackdown Continues
(35 minutes later)
ISTANBUL — Turkish authorities moved to widen their purge of perceived opponents on Monday by removing thousands of police officers from their posts, part of the crackdown that followed a failed military coup that was aimed at toppling the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.ISTANBUL — Turkish authorities moved to widen their purge of perceived opponents on Monday by removing thousands of police officers from their posts, part of the crackdown that followed a failed military coup that was aimed at toppling the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The Interior Ministry fired nearly 9,000 police officers on Monday, Turkish officials said. That followed the arrests of 6,000 military personnel and 103 generals and admirals, and the suspensions of nearly 3,000 judges over the weekend.The Interior Ministry fired nearly 9,000 police officers on Monday, Turkish officials said. That followed the arrests of 6,000 military personnel and 103 generals and admirals, and the suspensions of nearly 3,000 judges over the weekend.
Also on Monday, Mr. Erdogan extended an order for fighter jets to patrol airspace over Istanbul and Ankara, and banned military helicopters from taking off in Istanbul. Also on Monday, Mr. Erdogan extended an order for fighter jets to patrol the airspace over Istanbul and Ankara, and banned military helicopters from taking off in Istanbul.
The magnitude of the purges has raised concerns among Turkey’s Western allies that Mr. Erdogan is abandoning the rule of law and using the coup attempt as a pretext to cleanse the country’s institutions of his enemies. On Monday, the European Union’s top diplomat, Federica Mogherini, urged Turkey to show restraint, saying: “We need to respect, have Turkey respect, democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms.”The magnitude of the purges has raised concerns among Turkey’s Western allies that Mr. Erdogan is abandoning the rule of law and using the coup attempt as a pretext to cleanse the country’s institutions of his enemies. On Monday, the European Union’s top diplomat, Federica Mogherini, urged Turkey to show restraint, saying: “We need to respect, have Turkey respect, democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms.”
Mr. Erdogan pointed the finger of blame at his former ally-turned-rival Fethullah Gulen, a Muslim cleric who has been in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999 and who is known to have a vast following in the police and judiciary.Mr. Erdogan pointed the finger of blame at his former ally-turned-rival Fethullah Gulen, a Muslim cleric who has been in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999 and who is known to have a vast following in the police and judiciary.
Western diplomats said on Monday that Turkey’s response to the coup suggested that the government had prepared lists of those they believed to be linked to Mr. Gulen’s followers, before the coup attempt. Western diplomats said on Monday that Turkey’s response to the coup attempt suggested that the government had prepared lists of those they believed to be linked to Mr. Gulen’s followers, before the unrest.
A senior Turkish official said that members of the Gulen Movement in the military had been under investigation for some time, and that the group had acted out of a sense of emergency when they realized that they might face prosecution. A senior Turkish official said that members of the Gulen movement in the military had been under investigation for some time, and that the group had acted out of a sense of emergency when they realized that they might face prosecution.
“There was a list of people who were suspected of conspiring to stage a coup,” the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity in line with government protocol. “And they did attempt a coup even though many people, including myself, treated the claims as a conspiracy theory at the time.”. “There was a list of people who were suspected of conspiring to stage a coup,” the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity in line with government protocol. “And they did attempt a coup even though many people, including myself, treated the claims as a conspiracy theory at the time.”
“There was no arrest list,” the official said. “There was a list of people suspected of planning a coup.”“There was no arrest list,” the official said. “There was a list of people suspected of planning a coup.”
“Some judges were directly linked to the military faction that staged the failed coup — they would have assumed control of government agencies and courts-martial had the coup succeeded,” the official added. The official added, “Some judges were directly linked to the military faction that staged the failed coup — they would have assumed control of government agencies and courts-martial had the coup succeeded.”
Turkish officials have acknowledged that the number of purges are excessive, but they maintain that it is necessary to prevent another wave of attacks against civilians and government buildings, especially at a time when some perpetrators are still at large. Turkish officials have acknowledged that the number of purges is excessive, but they maintain that it is necessary to prevent another wave of attacks against civilians and government buildings, especially at a time when some perpetrators are still at large.
“Obviously, the courts will consider evidence and reach their verdicts,” the official said.“Obviously, the courts will consider evidence and reach their verdicts,” the official said.
The vast scale of purges, especially among security forces, has left Turkish citizens anxious over how the country will maintain stability and order at a time when it is reeling from a string of terrorist attacks by the Islamic State and Kurdish militants that has killed scores of people over the past year. The vast scale of purges, especially among security forces, has left Turkish citizens anxious over how the country will maintain stability and order at a time when it is reeling from a string of terrorist attacks by the Islamic State and Kurdish militants that have killed scores of people over the past year.
“The president is calling people out to the streets to stand guard against threats, and people are going, but how is this possible when there are active terrorist cells all over the country?” asked Seda Kapici, a lawyer, who was discussing the weekend’s events with a friend at a coffee shop in the Beyoglu district of Istanbul.“The president is calling people out to the streets to stand guard against threats, and people are going, but how is this possible when there are active terrorist cells all over the country?” asked Seda Kapici, a lawyer, who was discussing the weekend’s events with a friend at a coffee shop in the Beyoglu district of Istanbul.
“Everyone is on edge, and with these purges, I don’t know how people are going to be able to go about their normal lives,” she added.“Everyone is on edge, and with these purges, I don’t know how people are going to be able to go about their normal lives,” she added.
“The Erdogan supporters are sheep, and they will follow whatever he says, but for people like us that use our minds, we get that this means a huge lapse in security,” she said. “We are not safe.” “The Erdogan supporters are sheep, and they will follow whatever he says. But for people like us that use our minds, we get that this means a huge lapse in security,” she said. “We are not safe.”