As a part of the massive crackdown in the aftermath of the attempted coup in july, more than 10,000 civil servants were dismissed and almost 15 media outlets were closed down by the Turkish government for having pro-Kurdish leaning.
Issued on October 29 is the official decree which also includes changes in the administration of university.
According to the Turkish Journalist Association data, the total clamping down of media outlets stands at close to 170 now.
Investigation:
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hinted at bringing back the death penalty at the October 29th Country’s Republic day event. According to Al Jazeera he said, “I believe this issue will come to the parliament,”
Opposition and human rights activists of Ankara have accused that the emergency powers are being used by the government to muzzle the dissenting voices.
Accusations:
Co-mayors of Diyarbakir, a Kurdish dominated city were arrested by a Turkish court as reported on Sunday. According to the local prosecutor Gultan Kisanak and Firat Anli had made speeches urging to increase political autonomy for the country’s Kurdish population along with inciting protests of violent nature in 2014.
A 5 day state of emergency on July 20 was declared by Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan after an attempted coup in Istanbul and Ankara, the capital which left 161 people dead and 1440 people wounded. This crackdown is in an effort of target a network linked to United States-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen. Fethullah Gulen has been accused of planning the coup. The accusations have been denied by Gulen.
Following the emergency comes the arrest of scores of people including doctors, journalist, teachers and military commanders. Around 38,000 prisoners were set to be released in August by the government to make room for the people arrested in connection with the attempted coup. Before the latest round of arrests at least 100,000 have been dismissed or suspended according to a report by Al Jazeera.