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Turkey purges 13,000 police officers over failed coup | Turkey purges 13,000 police officers over failed coup |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Turkey has suspended almost 13,000 police officers for their alleged links with the US-based Muslim cleric, Fethullah Gulen. | Turkey has suspended almost 13,000 police officers for their alleged links with the US-based Muslim cleric, Fethullah Gulen. |
The latest wave adds to the 100,000 or so government workers dismissed or suspended since July's failed coup. | |
Mr Gulen denies the government's accusation that he or his supporters orchestrated the coup. | Mr Gulen denies the government's accusation that he or his supporters orchestrated the coup. |
The government in turn rejects claims it is using the coup as an excuse to get rid of its opponents. | The government in turn rejects claims it is using the coup as an excuse to get rid of its opponents. |
It insists those without proven links to the coup will be freed. | It insists those without proven links to the coup will be freed. |
Turkey post-coup purges convulse society | Turkey post-coup purges convulse society |
More than 2,500 officers whose suspensions were announced on Tuesday were police chiefs, said Turkish national police in a statement. | More than 2,500 officers whose suspensions were announced on Tuesday were police chiefs, said Turkish national police in a statement. |
It comes hours after the government announced that a state of emergency imposed shortly after the failed putsch would be extended by three months when it expires on 19 October. | It comes hours after the government announced that a state of emergency imposed shortly after the failed putsch would be extended by three months when it expires on 19 October. |
The emergency allows the president and cabinet effectively to rule by decree, bypassing parliament when drafting new laws and able to restrict or suspend rights and freedoms. | The emergency allows the president and cabinet effectively to rule by decree, bypassing parliament when drafting new laws and able to restrict or suspend rights and freedoms. |
There are fears that under the state of emergency - and in a country where judicial independence has plummeted - opponents are being rounded up with little chance to clear their name, says the BBC's Mark Lowen in Istanbul. | There are fears that under the state of emergency - and in a country where judicial independence has plummeted - opponents are being rounded up with little chance to clear their name, says the BBC's Mark Lowen in Istanbul. |
He says the depth of the purge is staggering, with thousands suspended, dismissed, detained or arrested - from teachers to soldiers, police to judges, aircraft pilots to journalists. | He says the depth of the purge is staggering, with thousands suspended, dismissed, detained or arrested - from teachers to soldiers, police to judges, aircraft pilots to journalists. |
In some areas, such as in eastern areas where there are large Kurdish populations, so many teachers have been detained - some accused of supporting the banned Kurdish rebel PKK group - that schools have effectively been forced to shut. | |
Silent schoolyards: Hatice Kamer, BBC Turkish, Diyarbakir | |
In the Kurdish areas, education has been hit twice this year: First by violence between security forces and PKK militants and then by the purge that followed the attempted coup. | |
In Diyarbakir, the biggest Kurdish city in the region, 4,000 teachers have been suspended. | |
Ali, a high-school student, moved to Diyarbakir to continue his education after clashes in his hometown, Sirnak, closed all the schools. | |
But he has been stymied here too. Since the coup attempt 19 teachers in his new school have been dismissed, meaning there is very little tuition left. | |
He now uses the past tense when discussing his ambitions. "Going to university," he says, "was my dream." | |
"I was working very hard to get a good job. But even our teachers are jobless now. What's the point?" | |
The schoolyards in Diyarbakir are mostly silent as school directors search desperately for new teachers. | |
The government says they will deploy 20,000 teachers to fill in. | |
But time passes by. In this region, there is little hope among students, teachers and parents that education standards can be maintained. | |
More than 130 media outlets have also been shut down. | More than 130 media outlets have also been shut down. |
Turkish authorities have repeatedly appealed to the US to extradite Mr Gulen and say they have presented documents proving his involvement in the coup bid. | Turkish authorities have repeatedly appealed to the US to extradite Mr Gulen and say they have presented documents proving his involvement in the coup bid. |
Over the weekend, Mr Gulen's brother was detained by police in western Turkey - the latest relative to be held. Mr Gulen's two nephews were detained in July and August. | Over the weekend, Mr Gulen's brother was detained by police in western Turkey - the latest relative to be held. Mr Gulen's two nephews were detained in July and August. |
Mr Gulen's lawyers insist he had no involvement in the coup attempt, and say he will not have a fair trial if extradited to his homeland. | Mr Gulen's lawyers insist he had no involvement in the coup attempt, and say he will not have a fair trial if extradited to his homeland. |
Coup plot and anti-Gulen fervour | Coup plot and anti-Gulen fervour |
Who are the Gulenists? | Who are the Gulenists? |
Who was behind coup attempt? | Who was behind coup attempt? |
Brief guide to Turkey's coup | Brief guide to Turkey's coup |
Turkey shuts more than 130 media outlets | Turkey shuts more than 130 media outlets |
Crackdown hits 'Gulen schools' worldwide | Crackdown hits 'Gulen schools' worldwide |