The Turkish court on Wednesday sentenced dozens of people, including former soldiers attached to the presidential guard regiment, to life in prison for their involvement in the failed coup attempt against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in 2016, the state-run Anadolu agency reported.
A total of 497 accused have been on trial since 2017 for attempting to seize the military headquarters in Ankara, occupying the headquarters of state broadcaster TRT, and forcing a television broadcaster to read out a statement on behalf of the state creators.
The massive trial was one of hundreds of trials against alleged members of a network led by American cleric Fethullah Gulen, who accused Ankara of orchestrating the failed attempt. Gulen, a former ally of Erdogan, denies the allegations.
Soldiers stand guard while people wait outside a courthouse ahead of the trial of 497 accused in Sincan, Turkey. (AP)
COMMANDMENTS, ERDOGAN CHANGE CRITICISM IN MEDIUM WHITE HOUSE WHICH HOUSES TURKEY THE COLD SHOULDER
The court in the suburbs of Ankara has sentenced 32 accused to life in prison, including six who were given aggravated life sentences without the possibility of parole, reports Anadolu.
Among those sentenced to the aggravating life sentence is a former lieutenant colonel who forced the anchor woman to read the statement, a former colonel accused of giving the order for the takeover of the TRT building and ‘ a former major who led a team trying to take over the military headquarters, the agency said.
The court also sentenced one person to 61 years in prison, while 106 accused were given terms of six to 16 years. Other defendants were either acquitted or did not receive jail time, Anadolu said.
A police officer checks identity cards when people enter court. (AP)
On July 15, 2016, factions within the Turkish army used tanks, warplanes and helicopters in an attempt to overthrow Erdogan. Fighter jets bombed parliament and other places in the capital of Turkey. Considering a call by the president, thousands took to the streets to stop the coup.
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A total of 251 people were killed and about 2,200 others were injured. About 35 suspected stalwarts were also killed.
The government has identified Gulen’s network as a terrorist group, which he still denies. He lives in the United States.