Turkey: Gulen could flee the US

Turkey on July 28, 2016 said it was discharging 149 generals and ordering the closure of dozens of media outlets in the next phase of its controversial crackdown in the wake of the failed coup.

Turkey’s ambassador to Kazakhstan on Friday warned the Central Asian country over its schools linked to U.S.-based preacher Fethullah Gulen, whom the Turkish government blames for this month’s coup attempt. Yesterday authorities announced they had issued 46 more arrest warrants for journalists and media workers, according to press reports, bringing to 88 the number of arrest warrants for journalists and media workers issued in the last week.

The army said that the plotters had 35 planes, 37 helicopters, 74 tanks and three ships.

Worldwide journalism advocacy groups have widely condemned the purge.

Egypt would study such a request if it was made, Ismail said.

She added, “Rather than stifling press freedom and intimidating journalists into silence, it is vital that Turkish authorities allow the media to do their work and end this draconian clampdown on freedom of expression”.

Poposki said he was in favor of the Turkish government’s effort to “get rid of traitors”, describing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as an “excellent leader”.

However, a campaign questioning Turkey’s North Atlantic Treaty Organisation membership is also gaining steam, and is being fuelled by former senior officers from the military, like retired Rear Adm. Cem Gurdeniz.

On Thursday, Cavusoglu told local media CNN Turk that ties between Turkey and the US would be impacted if the USA did not hand over Gulen to Turkey.