Turkey shuts down Gülen linked institutions with state of emergency enactment


Turkey announced on Saturday that it has shut down 35 medical institutions, 1,043 private schools, 1,229 foundations and associations, 19 unions and 15 private universities administered by the Gülen Movement in the wake of last week's failed coup.

The decision was the first enactment under the state of emergency and was announced in the Official Gazette on Saturday morning.

The enactment also enabled to hold suspects for up to 30 days before being taken to a judge, where all laws and decrees appear when they come into force.

Turkey suspended more than 21,738 teachers this week, amid the nationwide investigation into FETÖ, the name given by prosecutors to the organization under Fethullah Gülen, the fugitive former imam who lives in Pennsylvania.

Turkey's government has said the attempted coup was organized by followers of the U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gülen, who stands accused of a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through infiltrating Turkish state institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary, with the intent of forming a "parallel state."

At least 240 people, including members of the security forces and civilians, were martyred during the failed putsch, and nearly 1,500 others were wounded while protesting the failed seizure of power over the weekend.