Turkish educators denounce failed coup attempt

By Selma Kasap and Merve Yildizalp

ANKARA

Turkey’s Higher Education Board (YOK) and rectors of Turkish universities on Monday said Friday's attempted coup aimed “to seize the government illegitimately, suppress the will of nation bloodily and form a foreign-linked minority authority on the people”.

In a joint statement the educators said it was “impermissible to let this parallel state, which is the greatest enemy of free and scientific thought seize our universities and undermine scientific and technological developments”.

The YOK and rectors of Turkish colleges said it was impossible to expect the offshoots of the parallel state with "their anesthetized brains" in the academic world to be different.

On Friday night, rogue military elements attempted to overthrow Turkey’s democratically elected government by force. Over 200 people were martyred and more than 1,500 wounded in the ensuing violence.

Ninety-nine alleged plotters were remanded in custody in Ankara, with charges of establishing an armed terrorist organization, attempting to abolish the constitutional order and “intentional killing”.

A total of 8,777 personnel were dismissed from their duties, including 30 governors, 52 civil inspectors, and 16 legal advisers, the interior ministry said.

More than 6,000 suspects have been arrested in connection with Friday’s coup attempt, including military figures and judges.

They are accused of having links to the U.S.-based Fetullah Gulen, who is said to have pursued a long-running campaign against the government through supporters within the Turkish state.

Gulen is the main suspect in two investigations launched into the attempted coup by Istanbul prosecutors, judicial sources told Anadolu Agency on Sunday on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.