Turkey sacks more than 10,000 civil servants over links with failed coup

Turkish authorities have dismissed more than 10,000 civil servants over their suspected links with U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, blamed by Ankara for orchestrating the failed coup in July

A total of 10,131 employee within public offices have been sacked by legislative decree published in the official gazette late Saturday.

This decree made it easier to sack public officials believed to be members of terrorist organizations or groups involved in activities against the country’s national security or those in contact with terrorist organizations or groups.

Thirty-two officials from the parliament, 183 from the Court of Cassation, 249 from Turkish Directorate of Religious Affairs, 2,534 from Ministry of Justice, 102 from Foreign Ministry, 2,219 from Ministry of National Education, 2,774 from Ministry of Health, 101 from Turkish Armed Forces have been removed from their positions.

Fifteen media firms, including the Dicle News Agency and many newspapers and magazines were closed by the decree. These companies are believed to have spread propaganda for the PKK terror group.