Turkish appeals body to hear dismissal claims in weeks

By Ahmet Sait Akcay

ANKARA

An appeals body to hear the cases of those dismissed or suspended in the wake of last July’s coup attempt will be running within a month, a senior Turkish minister said Thursday.

The State of Emergency Procedures Investigation Commission will begin to hear cases before April 16, Deputy Prime Minister Nurettin Canikli told Anadolu Agency's Editors’ Desk in Ankara, referring to the date when Turkey is due to vote in a constitutional referendum.

“Appointments regarding the commission will be made shortly,” he said. “We expect the commission to go in action and receive appeals before April 16.”

More than 120,000 people have been sacked or suspended under emergency powers imposed in the wake of the July 15 attempted coup although thousands have been returned to their jobs. Hundreds of companies suspected of links to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization, said to have orchestrated the bid, have been taken over by the state.

In January, the commission’s framework was established. It will consider appeals against dismissals, suspensions and closures.

Its mandate will last two years but the Cabinet can extend it for a further year. Appeals are to be made through provincial governors’ offices.

Canikli said new statuary decrees under the state of emergency were close to being approved but did not give any further details.