66 more judges, prosecutors dismissed in coup attempt probe
ANKARA
Turkey’s Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) dismissed 66 more judges and prosecutors on Oct. 5 over their links to the movement of Fethullah Gülen, the U.S.-based Islamic preacher who is seen as the main suspect behind the July 15 coup attempt.The total number of dismissed judges and prosecutors increased to 3,456 with the latest dismissals as part of an investigation into the attempted takeover.
The previously sacked judges included Rüstem Eryılmaz, the former head of the case into the killing of Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant Dink in 2007, and Ömer Diken, the head of the former “Balyoz” (Sledgehammer) coup plot case.
Mehmet Ali Pekgüzel, the prosecutor in the Ergenekon coup plot case, was also dismissed.
The government says Gülen’s followers spent years infiltrating institutions with the goal of overthrowing the state.
The previously sacked judges included Rüstem Eryılmaz, the former head of the case into the killing of Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant Dink in 2007, and Ömer Diken, the head of the former “Balyoz” (Sledgehammer) coup plot case.
Mehmet Ali Pekgüzel, the prosecutor in the Ergenekon coup plot case, was also dismissed.
The government says Gülen’s followers spent years infiltrating institutions with the goal of overthrowing the state.
