Nearly 4,000 dismissed from bureaucracy, army for FETÖ ties

The post-coup crackdown on the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) is underway with a new wave of dismissals from the public sector and the army. With a new statutory decree issued on Saturday, authorities dismissed 3,974 people from bureaucratic institutions and the army. The dismissals are part of a series of decrees under the framework of the state of emergency declared after last year's brutal coup. FETÖ, which is known for controlling legions of infiltrators in the army, law enforcement, judiciary, bureaucracy and virtually all state institutions, is blamed for the putsch bid that killed 248 people.

The decree also reinstated 236 people suspended in an earlier decree as Turkey struggles to uncover the widespread network of infiltrators loyal to the terrorist group led by U.S.-based Fetullah Gülen.

Along with dismissals, the decree bans issuing diplomas to people graduated from FETÖ-linked schools abroad. The terrorist group, which posed as a religious charity for a long time prior to launching two attempts to topple the government in 2013, is known for having a global network of schools and companies.

Under the decree, 1,066 people working in the army were dismissed and 484 academics linked to terror groups were also dismissed. The rest of those dismissed were employees of the Justice Ministry, the Presidency of Religious Affairs, the Ministry of Health, the Supreme Court, a governing body of judges and prosecutors, a radio and television watchdog as well as state-run economy institutions and the Prime Ministry.

Among those dismissed is Brigadier General İdris Feyzi Okan, who was arrested after the coup attempt. Okan was the commander of the army's helicopter unit. Col. Bekir Furkan Özdaban, who served as a military aide for former President Abdullah Gül and incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, was also dismissed.

Some 45 associations, foundations and hospitals associated with the terrorist group were also closed down.

Tens of thousands of people tied to FETÖ have been dismissed or suspended from duty in the public sector since the coup while hundreds are being arrested for their involvement in the coup and participating in the crimes of FETÖ. Apart from the coup attempt, FETÖ is accused of using its infiltrators in the judiciary and law enforcement to conspiring against its critics, imprisoning them in sham trials and the illegal wiretapping of thousands of people. Last week, authorities suspended 9,103 police officers from duty. The suspended officers include guards of the president who escaped as an assassination attempt took place during the foiled putsch.

Led by U.S.-based Fetullah Gülen, a former preacher, the terrorist group managed to infiltrate the law enforcement, judiciary, bureaucracy and military over the past four decades before it openly threatened the government with two coup attempts in 2013.