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Turkey sacks 8,000 security personnel over coup attempt links

Xinhua, September 2, 2016 Adjust font size:

Turkey has sacked more than 8,000 security personnel over suspected links to Gulen's movement that is blamed for a July coup attempt, according to a Turkish statutory decree issued on Friday.

The dismissed security personnel include 7,669 police officers, 323 gendarmerie members, 24 central governors and two coast guard command personnel, Anadolu Agency reported.

Gulen, who heads the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) according to the Turkish government, has been residing in U.S. since 1999.

The Turkish government has repeatedly said the July 15 coup attempt was organized by followers of Gulen.

Under the decree, released as part of measures against Gulen's movement during a state of emergency, as many as 519 personnel from the Presidency of Religious Affairs have also been dismissed.

In addition, the certificates of those who graduated from the Gulenist universities in foreign countries have been abolished.

The decree also enabled judges and prosecutors who voluntarily retired from their positions in the past to return to work.

The Turkish government declared a state of emergency and launched a massive crackdown on Gulen's supporters in the wake of the failed coup attempt.

At least 81,000 people have been suspended or dismissed from state organizations over suspected links to Gulen's movement, referred by Ankara as FETO. Endit