Some 22,000 education staff suspended in coup probe

ANKARA

A total of 21,738 Turkish Education Ministry staff have been suspended across the country amid efforts to root out Gulenists in the wake of Friday’s attempted coup, the ministry said Wednesday.

The Turkish government has repeatedly said the failed coup was staged by supporters of U.S.-based cleric Fetullah Gulen, who is accused of a long-running campaign to overthrow the state.

Separately, the ministry said that the process to revoke the licenses of 21,000 staff at private educational institutions has also been completed.

In addition, more than 1,000 officials at the Gulen-linked Aktif Egitim education union have been suspended by the ministry and governorships, the ministry added.

The moves follow the suspension of tens of thousands of public employees in the military, police, education sector, and civil service, all suspected of having links to the Gulen movement.