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Nearly 4,000 Turkish public staff dismissed over suspected links to Gulen

Xinhua, April 29, 2017 Adjust font size:

A total of 3,974 public staff were dismissed over suspected links to Gulen Movement, as part of an ongoing probe into the July 15 coup attempt in 2016, the Turkish Official Gazette announced late Saturday.

According to the decree, 18 foundations, 14 associations and 13 healthcare organizations having links to the Gulenists were closed, while five associations will continue their activities.

The dismissed civil servants include employees from the Turkish Parliament, Supreme Court, Supreme Election Board, Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors, Directorate of Religious Affairs, the ministries of justice, energy, interior and other state institutions.

Television dating shows were also banned in a separate decree issued on the same day, a move already signalled by the government months ago.

Fethullah Gulen, the U.S.-based preacher, is accused by the Turkish government of orchestrating the 2016 failed coup attempt, which left at least 241 killed and over 2,000 injured.

The Turkish government launched a massive crackdown on Gulen's supporters in the aftermath of the coup attempt. Tens of thousands of public officials were dismissed or suspended from their jobs while many others remain under investigation. Endit