A photograph has surfaced online which shows dozens of Turkish soldiers huddled together naked on the floor following their surrender during the failed military coup.
The army personnel look to have been stripped of their uniform as they lay on the floor on an indoor basketball court in Sirnak, east Turkey, handcuffed as officials loyal to the Government look over them.
The group of soldiers are a part of more than 6,000 rebels to be detained in the aftermath of the failed
uprising that killed at least 250 and wounded more than 1,500.
It comes as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to purge all state institutions of supporters of an Islamist cleric his government blames for Friday's coup attempt.
Speaking at a funeral in Istanbul on Sunday, Erdogan broke down in tears as he vowed to cleanse the country of the 'virus' of Fethullah Gulen supporters.
He said Turkey, through the justice ministry and foreign ministry, would request the extradition of the cleric, who is based in the United States, and his backers. He has denied any involvement in the coup effort.
Turkish military officers who fled to Greece by helicopter after the failed coup were charged on Sunday by a prosecutor with illegal entry and violating Greek airspace.
The men, who have sought asylum in Greece, arrived by military helicopter on Saturday after sending a distress signal to authorities at the airport in the northern city of Alexandroupolis.
They were prosecuted for illegal entry into Greece, their lawyer Ilia Marinaki said, adding that they will appear in court on Monday. She added that they remained under arrest and had not made contact with their families.
The asylum seekers insist they took no part in the putsch and fled to Greece to save their lives 'when policemen started shooting against them'.
Marinaki added that the soldiers - all married and in their forties - feared for the safety of themselves and their families.
The army personnel look to have been stripped of their uniform as they lay on the floor on an indoor basketball court in Sirnak, east Turkey, handcuffed as officials loyal to the Government look over them.
The group of soldiers are a part of more than 6,000 rebels to be detained in the aftermath of the failed
uprising that killed at least 250 and wounded more than 1,500.
It comes as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to purge all state institutions of supporters of an Islamist cleric his government blames for Friday's coup attempt.
Erdogan |
He said Turkey, through the justice ministry and foreign ministry, would request the extradition of the cleric, who is based in the United States, and his backers. He has denied any involvement in the coup effort.
Turkish military officers who fled to Greece by helicopter after the failed coup were charged on Sunday by a prosecutor with illegal entry and violating Greek airspace.
The men, who have sought asylum in Greece, arrived by military helicopter on Saturday after sending a distress signal to authorities at the airport in the northern city of Alexandroupolis.
They were prosecuted for illegal entry into Greece, their lawyer Ilia Marinaki said, adding that they will appear in court on Monday. She added that they remained under arrest and had not made contact with their families.
The asylum seekers insist they took no part in the putsch and fled to Greece to save their lives 'when policemen started shooting against them'.
Marinaki added that the soldiers - all married and in their forties - feared for the safety of themselves and their families.
0 comments: