Innocent
of plotting this coup is what I meant.
Latest update : 2016-07-27
Turkey on Wednesday ordered the closure of scores of media outlets and said it was discharging 149 generals in the latest phase of its controversial crackdown in the wake of a failed coup.
According to a government decree published in
Turkey's official gazette, the closure involves three news agencies, 16 television stations, 23 radio stations, 45 newspapers, 15 magazines and 29 publishers.
Confirming the decree, a Turkish official said the discharged army generals included 87 in the land army, 30 from the air force and 32 admirals.
Private broadcaster CNN Turk said a total of 1,684 military personnel had been discharged since the
failed July 15-6 coup.
The moves are likely to further raise concern among rights groups and Turkey's Western allies about the extent of the purge ordered by
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Turkey declared a three-month state of emergency and detained more than 13,000 people in the military, judiciary and other institutions following the foiled coup.
Under the state of emergency, Turkish authorities can hold suspects in detention without charge for up to 30 days before they are taken to a judge to decide whether to remand them in custody.
In an
interview with FRANCE 24 last Saturday, Erdogan said the emergency powers were necessary to cure his country of “separatist terrorist organisations”, which he likened to a “cancer”.
But the wave of arrests has alarmed Turkey’s NATO allies and European leaders, amid fears the Turkish president may be exploiting the fallout from the failed to coup to crack down on dissenting voices.
(FRANCE 24 with AP, REUTERS)