Erdogan's Government Revokes Passports of 50,000 Individuals

Continuing the crackdown on forces that the Turkish government accuses of involvement in the recent failed coup, the government has announced the revocation of passports for about 50,000 individuals and has banned them from leaving the country. The Independent reported on Sunday, August 1, that according to 'Efkan Ala', the Turkish Minister of Interior, more than 18,000 people have been arrested in connection with the failed coup, and investigations are ongoing on thousands of other government employees. Meanwhile, following the announcement that the President of Turkey has ordered changes in the structure of the Turkish military, Reuters reported on Sunday that nearly 1,400 more military personnel have been dismissed from the army. Reports have also emerged that rumors of another coup attempt have led about 7,000 Turkish military personnel to surround the strategic Incirlik airbase in southern Turkey. The recent failed coup left 246 dead and 2,185 injured, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accusing his political rival Fethullah Gülen, who resides in the U.S., of involvement in the coup; Gülen has denied these accusations. Erdogan, in an interview with the 'A-Haber' television network on Saturday, August 1, accused Gülen of being a 'tool' of a 'mastermind' behind the scenes. Erdogan did not provide further details about this 'mastermind' but has previously used the term to refer to Western powers, especially the United States. In one of his speeches in December 2014, Erdogan stated that the 'mastermind' aims to target Turkey's existence, unity, peace, stability, and especially its economy and independence. He added that 'some people ask me who this mastermind is, and I say it is your job to investigate this; you know what the [mastermind] is and who it is.' Since the failed coup, newspapers in Turkey have made various accusations against the United States in this regard. The United States denies any involvement or prior knowledge of the coup, with General Joseph Votel, head of the U.S. Central Command in the Middle East, calling these accusations 'completely false' and emphasizing that 'Turkey has been an incredibly vital partner for us in the region for years. We continue to praise Turkey's ongoing cooperation and look forward to working with them in the fight against ISIS.' In this context, Erdogan ordered changes to the military structure of Turkey, and the American general denied any involvement in the failed coup. Train traffic between Iran and Turkey has resumed after a few days of suspension, and the European Union has expressed concern over media repression in Turkey.