Turkey needs more courts to try dissidents

Authorities have detained or sacked people from across local government, the military, the media and the judiciary, and asked the United States to deport Pennsylvania-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, accusing him of organising the aborted uprising.

Gulen, a former ally of President Tayyip Erdogan now branded a terrorist by Ankara, denies any involvement in the uprising which killed more than 240 people as rogue soldiers commandeered tanks and fighters. 

One new court room was already under construction in the town of Sincan, near the capital Ankara, Bozdag said. “We will build new courthouses as needed. Some may be prosecuted for membership in a terror outfit,” he added.