Over 22,000 from army, military schools expelled: Minister

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

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Defense Minister Fikri Işık has said over 22,000 cadets from the army and military schools have been expelled for links with the Fetullahist Movement following the July 15, 2016, failed coup attempt . 

Giving figures in response to a question asked by main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) lawmaker Sezgin Tanrıkulu, Işık said out of the total 6,511 were expelled from Turkish Armed Forces, while 16,409 others lost their cadet status after the coup bid. 

Among the 16,409 cadets, 4,090 cadets were from military high school, 6,140 from non-commissioned officers’ college and 6,179 were students getting
their bachelor’s degree from Turkish Military Academy, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, Gülhane Military Medical Academy and School of Nursing, the minister said in a statement. 

Fethullahist Movement, led by U.S.-based preacher Fetullah Gülen, is accused of orchestrating the July 15 coup attempt to overthrow the elected government of Turkey. The bid eft 249 people killed and around 2,200 others wounded.