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Erdoğan steps up purge in Turkey
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| Contributor | IndyGeorgia |
| Last Edited | IndyGeorgia Jul 18, 2016 08:52pm |
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| Category | News |
| Author | Roy Gutman |
| News Date | Tuesday, July 19, 2016 12:00:00 AM UTC0:0 |
| Description | ISTANBUL — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stepped up government purges on Monday, suspending nearly 9,000 interior ministry officials in the wake of Friday’s unsuccessful military coup.
As many as 6,000 judges, prosecutors and military personnel have already been arrested. Security officials throughout the country were ordered to appear at police headquarters where they had to turn in their weapons and police IDs. Among those suspended were 77 provincial or district governors, officials who had been the central government’s key representatives in cities and provinces around the country, as well as chiefs of police in some cities.
The continuing purges are raising alarms inside and outside Turkey about the further deterioration of democratic standards in the country. Western allies urged Erdoğan on Monday to respect the rule of law, with Secretary of State John Kerry warning Erdoğan that NATO is monitoring how Turkey deals with the aftermath of the coup.
“NATO also has a requirement with respect to democracy,” Kerry told reporters in Brussels on Monday. “Obviously a lot of people have been arrested and arrested very quickly. The level of vigilance and scrutiny is obviously going to be significant in the days ahead. Hopefully we can work in a constructive way that prevents a backsliding.” |
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