Turkey’s Defense Ministry continued administrative purges in the Turkish Armed Forces after the end of formal emergency rule, dismissing 4,562 personnel over the past two years on allegations of links to outlawed groups.
The ministry also stripped 531 retired military officers of their ranks.
The dismissals were approved by Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, who was reported to be directly following the purge process and signing off on files as they reached his office.
Akar said purge decisions followed new information
Officials said administrative bodies were strictly applying criteria established during earlier purge operations.
They said Akar was monitoring the process personally and issuing dismissal orders immediately upon receiving case files, leaving no backlog.
“Our coordination with judicial and intelligence agencies continues. Administrative action is taken immediately as new information, documentation and institutional conclusions emerge,” Akar said.
Nearly 20,000 dismissed from armed forces since July 15
Since Turkey’s July 15, 2016 coup attempt, 19,583 personnel have been permanently dismissed from the Turkish Armed Forces.
Judicial and administrative proceedings remained active for another 4,156 personnel.
The figures showed that post-coup purges in the military continued through administrative procedures even after the state of emergency formally ended.
Ankara blames the coup attempt on the Gülen movement, a transnational civic initiative inspired by Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, and designates the movement as a terrorist organization. The movement denies involvement in the coup or any terrorist activity.
