Over 18,000 people detained in Turkey's coup bid probe

By Yıldız Nevin Gundogmus

ANKARA (AA) – More than 18,000 people have been detained in Turkey as part of its probe into the deadly July 15 coup attempt, Interior Minister Efkan Ala said Friday.

In remarks made on Turkey’s state television TRT, Ala said: “The number of people detained stands at 18,044, out of whom 9,677 have been remanded in custody so far as part of the probe into the Fetullah Terror Organization's [FETO] coup attempt.

“Those linked to FETO are being suspended while others who have links to FETO coup attempt are being fired from various state departments.”

About cancellation of passports, he said: “As many as 49,211 passports of citizens have been canceled.”

Ala lashed out at the coup plotters, saying “Turkey, which has made huge progress in the world, now has to face this hard situation arising out of the coup attempt.”

Regarding concerns over human rights violations, the minister said: "We have acted from the start in accordance with democratic principles, rule of law.”

Turkey's government has repeatedly said the deadly coup attempt, which martyred at least 246 people and injured nearly 2,200 others, was organized by followers of U.S.-based preacher Fetullah Gulen.

Gulen is also accused of running a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary, forming what is commonly known as the parallel state.