Military coup underway in Turkey

Can't imagine, Lily....

http://news.sky.com/story/turkey-shuts-130-media-outlets-in-post-coup-purge-10514898

Turkey Shuts 130 Media Outlets In Post-Coup Purge

The Turkish government has ordered the closure of more than 130 media outlets amid a deepening crackdown following this month's failed coup.

Three news agencies, 16 television stations, 23 radio stations, 45 newspapers, 15 magazines and 29 publishers are among those that have been shut down.

It follows the closure of other media outlets including the Cihan news agency which are suspected of links to US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom the government has accused of masterminding the 15 July plot to topple President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Binali Yıldırım

Authorities handed out arrest warrants for 42 journalists earlier this week as part of the crackdown on alleged supporters of Mr Gulen.

On Wednesday, more were issued for the detention of another 47 employees from the now defunct Zaman newspaper.

The United States has described the targeting of journalists as a "troubling trend".


Since the attempted coup, more than 60,000 soldiers, police, teachers, judges, civil servants and others have been detained, suspended, or placed under investigation.

Nearly 1,700 military personnel have also been fired - including 149 generals and admirals.

The move comes as Turkey's Prime Minister Binali Yildrim on Thursday met the country's remaining top military commanders to discuss a radical shake-up of its armed forces.

Attending the hastily convened meeting of the Supreme Military Council (YAS) in Ankara were land, sea and air force commanders, along with other top brass untarnished by the attempted power grab.

Ahead of the sit down two of the country's four-star generals - Kamil Basoglu and Ihsan Uyar - announced their resignations.

http://www.thelocal.de/20160728/turkey-demands-germany-extradite-glen-supporters

Ankara called on Germany on Thursday to extradite supporters of Islamic cleric Fethullah Gülen, whom the Turkish government accuses of plotting a failed coup earlier this month.

German ambassador to Turkey left out in cold (28 Jul 16)
German Turkish community split by unrest after coup plot (22 Jul 16)
Foreign Minister Mevlüt Cavusoglu made the announcement to broadcaster CNN Turk.

Without naming names, Cavusoglu said that “some judges and lawyers” who are supporters of Gülen reside in Germany, and that “their extradition is also necessary".

Turkey has already demanded that the USA extradite Gülen, who lives there.

After the coup attempt, which took place on July 15th, Ankara has been heavily criticized for its clampdown on opposition.

Last week, Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesperson said: “Nearly every day we are seeing new measures that flout the rule of law and that disregard the principle of proportionality. There is no doubt that they are deeply worrying."

Most recently, on Wednesday, president Recep Tayyip Erdogan ordered by decree the closing of dozens of media outlets, including television and radio stations, and newspapers.

Story continues below… etc

Oh Lord....

https://www.rt.com/news/353753-turkey-protest-incirlik-base/

Massive anti-US rally staged at NATO Incirlik air base in Turkey


A crowd has been protesting near the Incirlik military base in Adana, Turkey. The base houses US and NATO forces.
Regional television has been broadcasting the rally.

Reports on social media suggest up to 1,000 people have gathered to support the demonstration.

Protesters have been shouting anti-American and anti-Israel slogans, according to an RT stringer.





More, including pics, at link.

Travel - State Dept ✔ @TravelGov
US citizens in Turkey: Demonstration expected from Merkez Park to Incirlik Air Force Base 6pm July 28. Consulate in Adana will close at 4pm.
11:13 AM - 28 Jul 2016

Move the damned nuclear weapons before it's too late!

Oh sorry, I forgot, Obungle is President.

Abdullah Bozkurt
‏@abdbozkurt
The protest rally against #US before #Incirlik Air Base mainly led by the youth branch of religious party Saadet



I think we all know this plotline....

bb1 wrote:Travel - State Dept ✔ @TravelGov
US citizens in Turkey: Demonstration expected from Merkez Park to Incirlik Air Force Base 6pm July 28. Consulate in Adana will close at 4pm.
11:13 AM - 28 Jul 2016

Move the damned nuclear weapons before it's too late!

Oh sorry, I forgot, Obungle is President.

I have it on good authority that there are not any there. Thank goodness!

https://twitter.com/MahirZeynalov/with_replies

Horrifying reading - he's a Turkish journalist, thankfully currently in the US, and he's tweeting out a long, long list of people in the media who have been arrested.

http://www.thelocal.de/20160729/ensions-in-germany-ahead-of-pro-erdogan-demo

Tens of thousands of supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan plan to rally in Cologne on Sunday, as tensions over Turkey's failed coup have put German authorities on edge.

Turkey demands Germany extradite Gülen supporters (28 Jul 16)
German ambassador to Turkey left out in cold (28 Jul 16)
German Turkish community split by unrest after coup plot (22 Jul 16)
Since the attempted power grab on the night of July 15th, skirmishes have broken out between backers and opponents of Erdogan in Germany, home to Turkey's biggest overseas diaspora.

Pro-Erdogan activists have stormed locations popular with followers of US-based preacher Fethullah Gülen, whom Ankara accuses of masterminding the putsch attempt, while critics of the Turkish president have also complained of abuse and threats against them on social media.

On Sunday, up to 30,000 people are expected to answer a call to take to the streets issued by a pro-Erdogan group, the Union of European-Turkish Democrats (UETD), according to police.

The North-Rhine Westphalia state, where Cologne is located, is home to about one third of Germany's three-million strong Turkish community.

Ahead of the march, security services have sought to head-off any potential clashes between pro- and anti-Erdogan groups.

Cologne's police chief Jürgen Mathies warned: "One thing I want to make clear is that we will intervene against any kind of violence quickly, decisively and forcefully."....etc

Reuters, Fri Jul 29, 2016 5:24am EDT
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan wants the armed forces and national intelligence agency brought under the control of the presidency, a parliamentary official said on Thursday, part of a major overhaul of the military after a failed coup.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-security-idUSKCN1081HT

This isn't going to end well.

Turkey cancels 50,000 passports as President Erdogan tightens noose around suspected dissidents after failed coup
Turkey has cancelled the passports of almost 50,000 people following coup attempt.
It is the latest stage in President Erdogan's clampdown on alleged dissidents in the country, and signals his regime's increasingly authoritarian policies.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/turkey-cancels-50000-passports-president-8524161

Turkey coup attempt: Government had list of arrests prepared before rebellion, EU commissioner says
The swift rounding up of judges and others accused of taking part in a failed coup in Turkey indicates the government had prepared a list beforehand, the EU commissioner dealing with Turkey's membership bid has said.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/turkey-coup-attempt-erdogan-government-arrests-military-uprising-eu-commissioner-a7142426.html

Turkey's Erdogan to drop lawsuits against people who insulted him
Turkey's president has said he is withdrawing all lawsuits against people charged with insulting him.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he was inspired by the feelings of unity in the wake of the recent failed coup.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-36925723

Turkey creates ‘Traitors’ Cemetery’ for dead coup plotters

Turkey’s Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) issued a directive denying funeral prayers and services for those who died while trying to overthrow the government. Such prayers, it said, were intended for the faithful as an act of exoneration, “but these people, with the action they undertook, have disregarded not just individuals but also the law of an entire nation and therefore do not deserve exoneration from the faithful.”

http://www.goodmorningturkey.com/politics/turkey-creates-traitors-cemetery-for-dead-coup-plotters

Intel, military chiefs may be tied to president
http://www.goodmorningturkey.com/politics/intel-military-chiefs-may-be-tied-to-president

Astounding. He does seem to be taking Stalin as a role model..

Controversy ahead of pro-Erdogan rally in Cologne
The German city of Cologne is bracing for a major demonstration Sunday in support of Turkey's president, as well as anti-Erdogan protests. The rallies come in the wake of the failed military coup in Turkey.
http://www.dw.com/en/controversy-ahead-of-pro-erdogan-rally-in-cologne/a-19430132

Huge pro-Erdogan rally puts strain on Turkish community
Published: 29 Jul 2016 14:45 GMT+02:00
Tens of thousands of supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan plan to rally in Cologne on Sunday, as tensions over Turkey's failed coup have put German authorities on edge.
http://www.thelocal.de/20160729/ensions-in-germany-ahead-of-pro-erdogan-demo

I seem to recall there are also a lot of Kurds in Germany, LL?

bb1 wrote:I seem to recall there are also a lot of Kurds in Germany, LL?

Gemany does not, or at least they didn't use to, make distinctions between ethnic minorities.  Therefore Kurds are classed as being of Turkish nationality, as  Turkey is their homeland.    My son says the tension in Berlin is definitely being stoked up by pro-Erdogan ethnic Turks.    LL

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/world/home-to-3-million-turkish-immigrants-germany-fears-rising-tensions-after-failed-coup

As the Turkish government began a punishing campaign against suspected coup plotters, there were increasing signs that the tensions in Turkey were now also playing out in Germany. Thomas Oppermann, a leader of Germany’s Social Democratic Party, harshly criticized Erdogan on Sunday. “When thousands of judges and prosecutors are removed who had obviously nothing to do with the coup, then that is an attack on democracy,” Oppermann said.

But many of Germany’s roughly 3 million Turkish immigrants were likely to be enraged by Oppermann’s statement. On social media, some users who appeared to be Turkish immigrants living in Germany voiced discontent. “He is a third-rate person who is good for nothing,” one user named Hakan Gunduz wrote in response to Oppermann’s comments. Another commentator argued that the comments were a sign that Germany’s coalition government “used every chance to get rid of fundamental rights.”

“The inner-Turkish tensions between nationalists and Kurds, as well as between Erdogan-supporters and opponents must not play out in Germany,” Social Democratic politician Aydan Ozoguz, who is the governmental commissioner for integration, told a German newspaper Monday, reflecting fears that protests could eventually turn violent....etc.

This twavatar is a joke - I think.......

Turkish authorities free over 800 soldiers in coup probe
ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkish courts on Saturday released over 800 enlisted conscripts who were under arrest as part of the investigation into the July 15 failed coup, the state-run Anadolu news agency said.
http://www.mail.com/int/news/europe/4512656-turkish-authorities-free-800-soldiers-coup-probe.html#.1258-stage-hero1-7

German lawyer: Erdogan lawsuits in Germany remain in place
BERLIN (AP) — A German lawyer who has represented Turkey's president says lawsuits filed in Germany over alleged insults remain in place, despite Recep Tayyip Erdogan's announcement that he was dropping all suits against people charged with insulting him.
http://www.mail.com/int/news/europe/4512670-german-lawyer-erdogan-lawsuits-germany-remain-plac.html#.1258-stage-hero1-12

Give him a little more time and who knows what will happen?

Who knows, indeed?

Dozens suspended from Turkey's highest court in coup probe
ISTANBUL (AP) — Dozens of employees at Turkey's highest court have been suspended from their jobs as part of the government crackdown in the wake of a failed military coup, authorities said Saturday. Sixty-four employees at the Constitutional Court were suspended until an assessment could be made on any possible links they have to the July 15 attempted coup, the court said in a statement. Eight other employees had already been dismissed and were detained on July 18, it said.
http://www.mail.com/int/news/europe/4512656-dozens-suspended-turkeys-highest-court-coup-probe.html#.1258-stage-hero1-8

bb1 wrote:Who knows, indeed?

'We'll freeze Turkey talks' warns EU as arrests continue
As Turkish authorities on Friday widened their sweeping post-coup crackdown to the business sector, the European Union's enlargement commissioner implicitly warned that the bloc would freeze Turkey's accession talks if the crackdown violated the rule of law.
http://www.thelocal.de/20160730/well-freeze-turkey-talks-warns-eu-as-erdogan-crushes-opposition

I am actually astounded - though I should know better by now - that there is still talk of Turkey joining the EU, LL.