German newspaper Die Zeit reported that 768 Turkish citizens have applied for asylum in Germany since an attempted coup in Turkey on July 15, 2016.

According to information the paper obtained from the German Interior Ministry, 260 Turkish diplomats and 508 public servants have sought asylum as of Nov. 20.

Die Zeit said that half of these Turkish citizens were granted asylum and the other half are still waiting for a decision. It also reported that the children and spouses of diplomats and public servants seeking asylum were also included in this number.

On July 15, 2016, a small military junta linked to Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) attempted to topple the democratically elected president and the government of Turkey. The attempt was prevented by troops loyal to the government, along with police and millions of people in favor of democracy.

Putschist soldiers killed 249 people, mostly civilians, and injured over 2,000 people. After the failed coup, several Turkish military officers stationed at NATO bases in Germany disobeyed orders from Ankara to return home.

Several former soldiers and officials with suspected ties to FETÖ also fled to Germany and applied for asylum. Unconfirmed reports say that about 4,000 FETÖ suspects left for Germany after the coup attempt.

Despite Ankara's repeated requests to return FETÖ suspects, German authorities have not complied saying that it must first provide sound legal evidence that these people were involved in either the coup attempt or its preparation.

Ankara has singled out Germany among European countries for accepting some 250 fugitive diplomats and soldiers accused of involvement in the coup with suspected links to FETÖ.

A report titled "The FETÖ Settlement in Germany and Germany's FETÖ Policy," says that FETÖ has been using Germany as its main base and that German authorities have taken in the group with open arms.