Turkey continues to suspend state workers

By Ilkay Guder and Enes Duran

ANKARA (AA) – More than 44,000 people at state institutions have been suspended from their duties amid a nationwide probe into the July 15 coup attempt.

According to latest records, seen by Anadolu Agency on Friday, 44,530 employees at state institutions and organizations have been suspended from their duties for allegedly having links to the failed coup.

Twenty-two personnel at the Housing Development Administration of Turkey (TOKI) have been suspended from their duties, while 529 people at agencies linked to the Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communication have been suspended.

Turkey’s Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) also suspended its 170 employees while 58 personnel working in the authority’s support service have also been suspended.

The Turkish Radio and Television Association (TRT) suspended 300 personnel, while the country’s highest TV authority, the Radio and Television Supreme Council suspended 29 personnel.

TURKSAT Company, communications satellite operator of the country, has also canceled work agreement of its 29 employees.

Turkey’s treasury has suspended its 62 personnel including two general directors, one deputy director general and five head of departments.

Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs has also suspended 197 people from their duties.

As part of the probe against the Fethullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the Ministry of National Education has announced that 21,738 civil servants working at the ministry have been suspended from their duties, 21,029 of them were teachers.

The Ministry of Defense said 262 military judge and prosecutors have been suspended from their duties.

Moreover, 70 personnel at the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization have been suspended from their duties, including 58 people working at the general directorate of land registry and cadaster.

*Ilker Girit contributed to this story from Istanbul.