The Emergency Procedures Investigation Commission that was established to receive the complaints of tens of thousands of people who have been affected by the ongoing state of emergency has received 17,000 applications in its first week.

The investigations regarding the presence of Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) members in civil service began after the people's resistance to the coup attempt on July 15. More than 110,000 people were dismissed from civil service, approximately 3 percent of the total number of civil servants in Turkey. The commission started to receive complaints last week and Turkish media outlets reported on July 26 that as of Wednesday, 17,000 people have already filed applications.

On Jan. 23, the State of Emergency Procedures Investigation Commission was established to evaluate and make decisions regarding complaints related to operations made under state of emergency decree laws. Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım announced on May 16 that members of the State of Emergency Decrees Investigation Commission were appointed, stressing that more than 20,000 people have been returned to their posts after their complaints about being suspended were evaluated and they were found to have been unrightfully dismissed.

The commission has seven members, three of whom were appointed by the prime minister, one by the Justice Ministry, one by the Interior Ministry and two by the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK). The commission's term is two years and members are expected to receive around 100,000 complaints regarding the state of emergency decree decisions within their term.

Meanwhile, 300,000 application files, which were made through the courts and different organizations, were sent to the commission. The commission will deal with repeat applications after a preliminary examination.

The commission can demand any information and documents from public institutions and judicial authorities except documents subject to confidentiality as part of an investigation or otherwise classified state secrets. Public institutions and judicial authorities are obliged to immediately provide the requested information to the commission and facilitate any inquiries.

Applications to the commission are made through governors' offices. Those who have been removed from positions in public service, professions or organizations, as well as those who have been suspended, may also apply through the institution where they last worked.