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Erdogan Orders Closure Of Schools, Charities, Institutions


Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has extended the period in which some suspects can be detained without charge to 30 days, and ordered the closure of more than 1,000 private schools, according to an official statement.

Erdogan declared a three-month state of emergency on July 21 to strengthen state powers to arrest suspected coup participants.

The state of emergency allows the president and government to pass laws without first having to win the support of the parliament and curb and suspend rights and freedoms.

The first decree orders the closure of 1,043 private schools, 1,229 charities and foundations, 19 trade unions, 15 universities and 35 medical institutions over suspected links to cleric Fethullah Gulen, accused of being the mastermind of the July 15 coup plot.

Gulen, who went into exile after a falling out with Erdogan, has denied involvement in the failed military coup.

Erdogan has also approved the extension of the period of detention of some suspects from four to a maximum of 30 days in order to investigate the coup attempt.

At least 60,000 state employees have been detained or suspended in Turkey’s recent mass purges of state institutions.

Based on reporting by Reuters and BBC

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