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Turkey coup: Purge widens to education sector
| BBC News | - |
More
than 15,000 education staff in Turkey have been suspended after last
week's failed coup, as a purge of state officials widens still further.
Turkey coup: Purge widens to education sector
- 33 minutes ago
- From the section Europe
More than 15,000
education staff in Turkey have been suspended after last week's failed
coup, as a purge of state officials widens still further.
The
ministry of education accused them of links to Fethullah Gulen, a
US-based cleric the Turkish government says was behind Friday's
uprising.Mr Gulen denies any involvement in the coup attempt.
More than 1,500 university deans have also been ordered to resign by Turkey's high education board.
- Cleric Gulen condemns post-coup 'witch-hunt'
- How mobiles beat tanks and saved Erdogan
- Who was behind coup attempt?
- Why did Turkish coup plot fail?
"I'm sorry but this parallel terrorist organisation will no longer be an effective pawn for any country," Mr Yildirim said, according to Reuters news agency.
"We will dig them up by their roots so that no clandestine terrorist organisation will have the nerve to betray our blessed people again."
- 6,000 military personnel have been arrested, with more than two dozen generals awaiting trial
- 9,000 police officers have been sacked
- Almost 3,000 judges have been suspended
- More than 250 staff in Mr Yildirim's office have been removed
Meanwhile it has emerged that the army first received intelligence a coup was under way at 16:00 local time (13:00 GMT) on Friday, hours before a rogue faction deployed tanks and targeted key infrastructure.
The General Staff said in a statement it alerted the relevant authorities, adding that the majority of members had nothing to do with the coup.
Turkish women reflect on a dramatic week
"I know coups don't bring good things to Turkey, but we are desperate. I feel alienated from the people in the days after the coup. I don't like some of the people we see in streets. I guess you saw some of them - the Islamists. They will be stronger after this" - Joy, Istanbul.
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The removal of thousands of officials has alarmed international observers, with the UN urging Turkey to uphold the rule of law and defend human rights.
The President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, has accused Turkey of carrying out "revenge" against its opponents and critics.
He also said a debate around restoring the death penalty was "deeply worrying". The EU has warned such a move would end talks over Turkey joining the bloc.
According to official figures from the prime minister's office, Friday night's coup attempt left 232 people dead and 1,541 wounded.
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