Turkish Gov't Fires Over 60,000 People Over Suspected Links to Gulen

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Over 60,000 people have been dismissed on suspicion of being affiliated with US-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen and possible involvement in the July coup attempt, Head of Turkish Parliament Press Service Erbay Kucet said Wednesday.

"Across Turkey, over 60,000 people have been dismissed – these are judges, police officers, prosecutors and so on. Probes may be launched into a part of them, part of them may be arrested. In total, it is 60 120 people," Kucet told journalists.

Kucet added that among the parliament’s personnel, 41 officials were discharged, with investigations are underway into the activities of 60 more.

On July 15, a military coup attempt took place in Turkey. It was suppressed the following day. Over 240 people were killed during the coup attempt and an estimated 2,000 were wounded. Ankara has accused dissident Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who has lived in the US state of Pennsylvania since 1999, and his followers of playing the key role in the coup.

Following the coup, thousands of people, mostly officials, legal and educational workers, were detained or dismissed over alleged ties to Gulen's movement.