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Turkey failed coup: Nephew of US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen held | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Turkey has detained the nephew of US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, in connection with the failed coup attempt, state media report. | |
Muhammet Sait Gulen will be taken to the capital, Ankara, from Erzurum, the eastern region where his uncle was born, the Anadolu news agency says. | |
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan blames the coup attempt on Mr Gulen. | |
Earlier, the president extended the period in which suspects can be detained without charge to 30 days. | |
A statement carried by state media also ordered the closure of more than 1,000 private schools and more than 1,200 associations. | |
The moves follow the state of emergency declared on Wednesday in the wake of the failed coup. | |
Second detention | |
Muhammet Sait Gulen is reportedly also wanted over the leak of questions from 2010 civil service exams. | |
In May this year, another nephew of the cleric was detained in connection with schools run by Mr Gulen's Hizmet movement, according to a state media report at the time. | |
Mr Gulen, who was once an ally of Mr Erdogan but then fell out with him, has denied any involvement in the coup attempt. | |
The Turkish leader has said the state of emergency will allow the authorities to restore order and deal with the aftermath of the failed coup effectively. | The Turkish leader has said the state of emergency will allow the authorities to restore order and deal with the aftermath of the failed coup effectively. |
At least 60,000 state employees have been detained or suspended in an internationally criticised purge. | At least 60,000 state employees have been detained or suspended in an internationally criticised purge. |
Education ministry officials, private schoolteachers and university heads of faculty together account for more than half the people targeted. | |
The schools and associations whose closures have now been ordered are suspected of having links to Mr Gulen, Anadolu says. | |
Other institutions ordered to be shut down included 19 trade unions, 15 universities and 35 medical institutes, the agency said. | Other institutions ordered to be shut down included 19 trade unions, 15 universities and 35 medical institutes, the agency said. |
Also on Saturday, Ankara's chief prosecutor Harun Kodalak was reported by Turkish media as saying that 1,200 soldiers detained in the wake of the coup had been released. | |
Those freed were said to be low-ranking soldiers. Thousands of other service personnel, including more than 100 generals and admirals, remain in detention. | Those freed were said to be low-ranking soldiers. Thousands of other service personnel, including more than 100 generals and admirals, remain in detention. |
'Biased and prejudiced' | 'Biased and prejudiced' |
The state of emergency allows the president and cabinet to bypass parliament when drafting new laws and to restrict or suspend rights and freedoms. | The state of emergency allows the president and cabinet to bypass parliament when drafting new laws and to restrict or suspend rights and freedoms. |
Imposition of the measures has been criticised by France and Germany, as well as top EU officials, but Turkey has defended its actions, saying only those "100% identified" with those behind the coup are being targeted. | Imposition of the measures has been criticised by France and Germany, as well as top EU officials, but Turkey has defended its actions, saying only those "100% identified" with those behind the coup are being targeted. |
Mr Erdogan told France 24 television on Saturday that the EU was "biased and prejudiced" against Turkey. | Mr Erdogan told France 24 television on Saturday that the EU was "biased and prejudiced" against Turkey. |
Human rights groups including Amnesty International had warned Turkey against extending the period allowed for detention without charge, which previously stood at a maximum of four days. | Human rights groups including Amnesty International had warned Turkey against extending the period allowed for detention without charge, which previously stood at a maximum of four days. |
Amnesty has said Mr Erdogan is going "well beyond what might be considered a legitimate response to the coup attempt". | Amnesty has said Mr Erdogan is going "well beyond what might be considered a legitimate response to the coup attempt". |
Other critics have accused him of consolidating power on a scale largely unprecedented since Turkey's first democratic elections in 1946. | Other critics have accused him of consolidating power on a scale largely unprecedented since Turkey's first democratic elections in 1946. |