Turkey | Life imprisonment to four retired officers for the 2016 military coup attempt

Defence Redefined

Published on 07/04/2021 at 13:27

A court of Ankara sentenced today four retired military officers to life imprisonment for their participation in the 2016 military coup attempt against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, reported the Anadolu state news agency.

The convicted retired officers are among the 497 suspects on trial in relation to the failed coup attempt, most of whom had previously served in the presidential guard.

An Ankara court has found them guilty on several charges, mainly an attempt to overthrow constitutional order as well as an assassination attempt against the Turkish president.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office also accused them of having breached the public network TRT, of having forced reporters to broadcast an announcement of the coup as well as attacked the Army Staff headquarters.

The coup attempt, on July 15, 2016, claimed the lives of 248 people, including 24 coup plotters.

Turkey accuses Fethullah Gulen, a preacher in self-imposed exile in the United States, of being the mastermind of the coup attempt, a charge he denies.

Thousands of people have been arrested and prosecuted for alleged links to the Gulen movement since 2016.

More than 100,000 civil servants have been fired or made available for similar charges.

Also read: Turkey | New statement by 46 retired navy admirals, the crisis extends

Source: ANA MPA