BBC Online :
More than 15,000 education staff in Turkey have been suspended after last week’s failed coup, as a purge of state officials widens still further.
The ministry of education accused them of links to Fethullah Gulen, a US-based cleric the Turkish government says was behind Friday’s uprising.
Mr Gulen denies any involvement in the coup attempt .
The resignation of more than 1,500 university deans has also been ordered by Turkey’s high education board.
Prime Minister Binali Yildirim vowed to take action against Mr Gulen’s supporters.
“I’m sorry but this parallel terrorist organisation will no longer be an effective pawn for any country,” Mr Yildirim said, according to Reuters news agency.
“We will dig them up by their roots so that no clandestine terrorist organisation will have the nerve to betray our blessed people again.” Turkey’s media regulation body on Tuesday also revoked the licenses of 24 radio and TV channels accused to have links to Mr Gulen. “A successful coup attempt would have been a tragedy for the country and the region. The lesson is that Turkish democracy is strong. People don’t just blindly follow the government” – Yildiz, Istanbul. “I know coups don’t bring good things to Turkey, but we are desperate.
I feel alienated from the people in the days after the coup. I don’t like some of [the] people we see in streets. I guess you saw some of them – the Islamists. They will be stronger after this” – Joy, Istanbul. The UN has urged Turkey to uphold the rule of law and defend human rights in its response to the attempted coup.
