Erdogan says script for Turkey's coup was 'written abroad'
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 2 August 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Erdogan says script for Turkey's coup was 'written abroad', 2 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57db99a413.html [accessed 5 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. |
August 02, 2016
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says the "script" for a failed coup against his government last month was "written abroad" as he accused the West of supporting terrorism and coups.
Erdogan said in a speech in the capital, Ankara, on August 2 that charter schools in the United States were the main source of income for U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, who Erdogan accuses of being the mastermind of the July coup attempt in Turkey in which more than 250 people died.
He asked rhetorically how the United States and Turkey could be strategic partners when "you can still host someone whose extradition I have asked for?" The remark was a reference to Washington's refusal to act on Ankara's extradition request for Gulen.
Gulen, who has lived in the United States since 1999, has condemned the coup attempt and denied involvement in it.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has said Washington would only extradite Gulen if Turkey provided clear evidence of wrongdoing that would stand up in court.
More than 60,000 people in Turkey's military, judiciary, civil service, and education sectors have been detained, fired, or investigated since the coup, leading to Western criticism that Erdogan is cracking down on all forms of dissent and tighten his control of the country.
On August 2, warrants were issued for 98 doctors at the prestigious GATA military hospital in Ankara and Turkish soccer officials fired 94 referees and other officials over alleged ties to Gulen.
Based on reporting by Reuters and dpa
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
