Turkey dismisses over 2,700 employees under new decrees

By:Xinhua
update:December 25,2017

ANKARA, Dec. 25, 2017 -- The Turkish government on Sunday dismissed 2,756 employees, including civil servants, academics and military personnel, over alleged links to Gulenists or other terror groups.

Under two new statutory decrees published in the Official Gazette, 637 soldiers from the Turkish Armed Forces were expelled.

Some 360 officials were dismissed from the General Command of Gendarmerie Forces, while 341 people from the Directorate of Religious Affairs were sacked.

The new decrees also order to shut down 17 institutions, including seven associations, two local newspapers and a hospital.

According to Sunday's decrees, defendants who are on trial on terrorism charges will from now on appear in court wearing brown or gray uniforms.

Female suspects and convicts are exempt from wearing the uniforms, said the decrees.

Fethullah Gulen, the U.S.-based preacher, is accused by Ankara of orchestrating a failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016.

The Turkish government declared a state of emergency and launched a massive crackdown on Gulen's supporters in the aftermath of the coup attempt.