Thousands of soldiers arrested in Turkey after attempted coup
Turkish officials say that some 2,839 soldiers and officers who staged an attempted coup late Friday have been arrested, as the president accused an exiled cleric of organizing the plot.
As many as 2,745 judges reportedly have been suspended for allegedly having links to the cleric, Fetullah Gulen. Turkish media also report that 140 arrest warrants have been issued against members of Turkey’s Supreme Court.
Islamic preacher Fetullah Gulen, who lives in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, denied he was behind the plot. On Saturday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said that Turkey has not made a formal extradition request for Gluen, but the U.S. would consider it if Ankara presents solid evidence of wrongdoing.
NATO member Turkey is a key U.S. ally in the war against Islamic State terrorists. The coalition against IS depends on Turkey to keep a stable and sealed border to prevent new foreign fighters from reaching the terror group.
Prime Minister Binali Yildrim addressed the nation Saturday afternoon, calling the night a “dark stain for the Turkish state.”
Earlier in a televised address, Acting Chief of Staff Umit Dundar praised the “historic cooperation of the state and the people of Turkey,” but warned that the actions of the soldiers who staged the coup would not be so easily forgiven.
“Turkey has witnessed the madness of a group which fired at and bombed its own parliament, its own people, its own resources. This will never be forgotten,” he said.
There are varying reports of the number of people who have been killed in clashes, but officials have reported at least 161 dead.
There are also reports that Turkish officials have halted American warplanes from taking off from Incirlik air base. American officials say they are seeking an explanation.
Earlier Saturday, police officers and military traded gunfire at Taksim Square with reports saying military soldiers then laid down their arms. Televised news reports also showed footage of dozens of soldiers walking away from their tanks with their arms raised, surrendering to government forces on Istanbul’s Bosporus Bridge.
U.S. President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry issued a statement calling on all parties in Turkey to support the country’s democratically elected government.
Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic relations told VOA the coup should be rejected and denounced.
“Any attempt to delegitimize and take over the government is an assault on the will of the Turkish people because they elected that government through the ballot box and bullets should not be used in any fashion to take away that will so we denounce it and we ask all people to stand with Turkey and Turkish people,” he said.
Speaking to the people
Events began Friday when the army released a statement read on Turkish television saying it had “fully seized control” of the government to protect democracy and maintain human rights.
Erdogan, who conducted a FaceTime interview with CNN Turk late Friday, urged the Turkish people to go to the streets to protest the soldiers’ actions. He said those behind the move are associated with U.S.-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, a former ally of Erdogan who has accused the president of corruption.
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