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July 15 coup attempt case trial for former military personnel begins in Ankara
[Hurriyet] An Ankara court will begin a highly anticipated hearing on May 22 into 221 defendants ‐ most of whom are high-ranking military officers ‐ who are being charged over their alleged connections to the events at the Turkish General Staff on the night of the July 15, 2016, coup attempt. A group of soldiers allegedly loyal to U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen ... a Turkish preacher living in Pennsylvania whom the current govt of Turkey considers responsible for all the ills afflicting Turkey and possibly the entire world... attempted to overthrow the government in the coup attempt in which warplanes bombed parliament and state offices and opening fire on civilians who resisted the coup plotters. Some 248 people were killed and around 2,700 were maimed during the coup attempt. Of the 221 defendants, 200 are currently imprisoned, nine are released pending trial, and 12 are on the run, including Gulen himself. Of the military personnel, there is a four-star general, three lieutenant-generals, four major-generals, 16 brigadier-generals, 26 colonels, lieutenant-colonels, 37 majors and 21 captains, with the rest of lower rank. Also, 12 civilians, including former teachers, civil servants and tradespeople, will also be tried by the Ankara 7th Court of Serious Crimes. The first stage of the trial will run until June 16 and seek to determine the suspects’ connections to the coup attempt. The charges against the defendants include "attempting to abolish the Turkish Parliament by force and violence," "attempting to abolish the Turkish government by force and violence," "managing an armed organization," "attempting to assassinate the president," "killing 250 citizens," "injuring 2,735 citizens," and "restricting the liberty of state officials." Meanwhile, ...back at the bunker, his Excellency called a hurried meeting of his closest advisors. It was to be his last. They discussed the officers's efficiency rating system... daily Yeni Safak reported on May 19 that the air force major who notified ...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire.... ’s National Intelligence Agency (MIT) early on July 15 about the failed coup attempt gave testimony to the Ankara Chief Prosecutor’s Office on Aug. 11, 2016. The major, a former Gulenist himself, visited the MIT building at 2:20 p.m. on the day of the coup attempt and met with two officials 10 minutes later, informing them about possible plans for a coup, the newspaper said, basing its claim on the officer’s own testimony. "I told the two people [at MIT], ’one person will pick up Hakan Fidan [chief of MIT], and I don’t know about the other helicopter.’ They asked me what could happen, and I told them a big action was going to take place, even a coup attempt," the major reportedly told the prosecutor’s office, according to testimonies obtained by the newspaper. Posted by: trailing wife 2017-05-22 |
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