Turkey Extends State of Emergency

The Turkish parliament voted Monday to extend a state of emergency by three months, nearly a year after it was implemented in the wake of a failed coup attempt.

A statement from Prime Minister Binali Yildirim’s office earlier Monday had asked parliament to extend the state of emergency, which was due to expire on Wednesday.

About 250 people were killed and more than 2,000 others injured last year when a disgruntled army faction commandeered tanks and warplanes in a bid to overthrow President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after 15 years in power. Thirty-five coup organizers were also killed.

Since last year’s coup, operating under the state of emergency, the Turkish government has dismissed at least 100,000 civil servants characterized as supporters of the aborted coup. The government has arrested another 50,000 people.

President Erdogan claims the coup was led by a cleric, Fethullah Gulen, who has been living in self-imposed exile in the United States for nearly two decades.

Gulen denies any involvement.

 

 

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