Turkey on Saturday sacked 7400 government officials on the occasion of first anniversary of a failed military coup. Thousands of people are participating in marches in Istanbul and Ankara this weekend.
The latest dismissals include 2,303 police officers, 1,486 interior ministry staff, 546 navy and air force personnel, 418 justice ministry officials, 789 from the health ministry, 551 from religious affairs, 302 academics and 102 education ministry employees, reports UPI.
It further adds that the Turkish government had earlier dismissed than 100,000 public sector workers and arrested around 50,000 officials of military and police, members from judiciary, education and press.
While the government terms these dismissals and arrests as an effort to root out the coup supporters, critics say the government is attempting to purge dissent.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan renamed the iconic Bosporus Bridge in Istanbul as Martyrs' Bridge -- the scene of clashes between civilians and military tanks in 2016. He will also unveil a martyrs' memorial on the bridge.
He would also be delivering a speech in parliament at Ankara at 2:32 a.m. on Sunday -- the exact moment the assembly was attacked a year ago.
Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has termed the coup attempt as "Turkey's darkest and longest night," which was "transformed into a bright day."
On 15 July 2016, a coup was attempted in Turkey against state institutions, including, but not limited to the government and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The attempt was carried out by a faction within the Turkish Armed Forces that organized themselves as the Peace at Home Council.
They attempted to seize control of several key places in Ankara, Istanbul, and elsewhere, but failed to do so after forces loyal to the state defeated them. Roughly 250 people were killed and more than 2,000 others were injured. Thirty-five coup organizers were also killed.
The government accused the coup leaders of being linked to the Gülen movement, which is designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey and led by Fethullah Gülen, a Turkish businessman and cleric who lives in Pennsylvania. Erdogan accuses Gülen of being behind the coup-a claim that Gülen denies-and accused the United States of harbouring him.
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