Turkey dismisses almost 1,400 personnel from armed forces
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 31 July 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Turkey dismisses almost 1,400 personnel from armed forces, 31 July 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57db999413.html [accessed 4 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
July 31, 2016
Turkey has dismissed 1,389 personnel from the armed forces for suspected links to U.S.-based Fethullah Gulen, the Muslim cleric whom Turkey accuses of being behind a failed coup attempt earlier this month.
The July 31 report by state-run Anadolu Agency comes hours after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan proposed to bring the General Staff of the military and Turkey's spy agency under the authority of his office.
The constitutional changes, which seek to bring the military under government control, would have to be approved by a two-thirds majority and therefore Erdogan would need the support of opposition parties.
Erdogan also said that military schools will be shut down and a national defense university will be established.
The proposed changes are the latest in a widening crackdown launched after the failed coup on July 15.
Based on reporting by Reuters, dpa, and BBC
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
