Over 10,000 More People Dismissed in Turkey in Connection with the Coup

The Turkish government has dismissed over 10,000 more public sector employees in connection with the recent failed coup. According to a statement issued by the Turkish government on Sunday, November 1, 10,131 civil servants, mostly from the ministries of justice, health, and education, have been expelled. The Turkish government has also shut down 15 media outlets, some of which are close to the Kurdish community in the country. Additionally, the election of university presidents has been annulled, and from now on, it will be the President of Turkey who appoints university heads. Since the state of emergency was declared in Turkey three months ago, over 35,000 people in various judicial, military, security, governmental, and police sectors have been arrested, with tens of thousands more dismissed from their jobs. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated a day earlier that he would ask the Turkish parliament to reinstate the death penalty through a bill. The Turkish parliament had abolished the death penalty in 2004 to pave the way for joining the European Union. However, following the recent failed coup, the President has repeatedly emphasized the need to return this punishment to Turkish laws. In July of this year, a number of Turkish military personnel attempted a failed coup to oust Erdoğan's government. The Turkish government identifies Fethullah Gülen, a wealthy religious cleric and former ally of Erdoğan who has been living in exile in the U.S. for years, as the main figure behind this coup. Gülen, in turn, claims that the coup was Erdoğan's plan to purge his opponents.