Turkey yesterday vowed to root out allies of the US-based cleric it blames for a failed coup attempt last week after an already deep purge of the army, police and judiciary, and said it had sent evidence of his wrongdoing to Washington.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the government accuse Fethullah Gulen of orchestrating an attempted military takeover on Friday last week in which at least 232 people were killed and has called for his extradition from the US.
Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim accused Washington, which has said it will only consider an extradition request if clear evidence is provided, of double standards in its fight against terrorism.
Yildirim said that the Turkish Ministry of Justice had sent a dossier to US authorities.
Western leaders have expressed solidarity with the government over the coup attempt, but also alarm at the sweeping response, urging Turkey to adhere to democratic values.
In a parliament speech, Yildirim said the fact that civilians had been targeted in the attempted power grab by a faction in the military made it unprecedented in the history of Turkey, which last saw a violent coup more than 30 years ago.
“I’m sorry, but this parallel terrorist organization will no longer be an effective pawn for any country,” Yildirim said.
“We will dig them up by their roots so that no clandestine terrorist organization will have the nerve to betray our blessed people again,” he said.
About 1,400 people were wounded as soldiers commandeered tanks, attack helicopters and warplanes in their bid to seize power, strafing parliament and the intelligence headquarters and trying to seize the main airport and bridges in Istanbul.
Authorities have suspended or detained close to 20,000 soldiers, police, judges and civil servants in the days since the coup bid.
The broad crackdown and calls to reinstate the death penalty for plotters have drawn appeals from Western allies for Ankara to uphold the rule of law in the country, a NATO member bordering the chaos of Syria whose cooperation in the fight against the Islamic State group is crucial to Washington.
Some have expressed concern that Erdogan — who said he was almost killed or captured by the mutineers — was using the opportunity to consolidate power and further a process of stifling dissent.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, voiced “serious alarm” at the mass suspension of judges and prosecutors.
“In the aftermath of such a traumatic experience, it is particularly crucial to ensure that human rights are not squandered in the name of security and in the rush to punish those perceived to be responsible,” Zeid said.
The foreign ministry has said criticism of the government’s response amounts to backing the coup.
Yildirim said Turkey would respect the rule of law and not be driven by revenge in prosecuting those suspected of helping organize the coup.
Speaking alongside the leader of the main secularist opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), he said the country must avoid the risk that some people try to exploit the current situation.
“We need unity ... and brotherhood now,” he said.
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