Almost 3,000 judges fired today in Turkey: Erdogan’s purge intensifies

Turkey’s state news agency Anadolu and the NTV news channel both report that 2,745 judges working in different parts of Turkey have been fired from their posts today.

The decision was reportedly taken by the body which supervises judges and prosecutors, and the purpose was “disciplinary measures against those suspected of having links to Fetullah Gulen”.

Gulen, who lives in exile in the United States, is being blamed publicly, by Erdogan and his associates, for last night’s coup. Gulen has issued a statement saying that he had nothing to do with it, and condemning it.

It is clear that Erdogan is going to use the failed coup as justification for even worse undemocratic behaviour and violations of human rights.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish president