skip to main content

Turkey dismisses 1,600 military personnel, shuts media

There was an attempt to overthrow Tayyip Erdogan's government earlier this month
There was an attempt to overthrow Tayyip Erdogan's government earlier this month

Turkish authorities have announced the dismissal of more than 1,600 military personnel and the closure of more than 130 media outlets, CNN Turk has reported.

A total of 1,684 military personnel have been discharged, the broadcaster said.

In addition, three news agencies, 16 television channels and 45 daily newspapers, among others, have been ordered to be shut down, it said.

The moves are likely to further raise concern among rights groups and Turkey's Western allies about the reach of President Tayyip Erdogan's purge in the wake of the failed military coup on 15 July.

There has been a large-scale crackdown on suspected supporters of US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen since the failed coup; Turkey accuses Mr Gulen of masterminding the coup attempt.

Interior Minister Efkan Ala earlier said more than 15,000 people, including about 10,000 soldiers, had been detained so far over the coup attempt, CNN Turk broadcaster reported.

Of those, more than 8,000 were formally arrested pending trial.

Tens of thousands of others suspected of having links to the Gulen movement, including police, judges and teachers, have been suspended or placed under investigation since the coup, which was staged by a faction within the military.

Mr Gulen, who lives in Pennsylvania but whose movement has a wide following in Turkey where it runs a large network of schools, has denied any involvement in the failed coup.

Western governments and human rights groups, while condemning the abortive coup, have expressed concern over the extent of the crackdown, suggesting President Erdogan may be using it to stifle dissent and tighten his grip on power.

Mr Erdogan denies the crackdown has wider aims and says the Gulen movement threatened democracy by building a "parallel state".