Supporters of President Erdogan celebrate in Ankara following the suppression of the attempted coup
(
Reuters
)
The Turkish government has removed 2,745 judges from duty in the wake of a failed military coup in which over 161 people were killed.
The decision followed an emergency meeting of Turkey’s Judges and Prosecutors High Council which was called to discuss members’ links to US-based cleric Fethullah Gülen, the leader of a reformist Muslim movement.
The meeting saw the dismissal of 2,745 judges along with several members of the council itself, which is Turkey’s highest judiciary board.
Turkey failed coup: Parliament unified in rare meeting
Turkey’s state-run news agency said authorities have detained 10 members of the council.
The Anadolu Agency said arrest warrants have been issued for 48 administrative court members and 140 members of Turkey's appeals court.
The government has repeatedly blamed the influence of the Gülen movement for the coup and has said the overthrow attempt was carried out by a clique of supporters within the military.
Turkey’s acting military chief of staff Umit Dundar earlier said: “The armed forces is determined to remove members of the Gülen movement from its ranks.”
Mr Gülen, a preacher and former imam, was an ally of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan until 2013. The relationship turned sour after a corruption scandal implicated Mr Erdogan, who then accused Mr Gülen of being behind the corruption investigations.
In pictures: Turkey coup attempt
In pictures: Turkey coup attempt
1/17
Turkish President Erdogan attends the funeral service for victims of the thwarted coup in Istanbul at Fatih mosque on July 17, 2016 in Istanbul, Turkey
Burak Kara/Getty Images
2/17
Soldiers involved in the coup attempt surrender on Bosphorus bridge with their hands raised in Istanbul on 16 July, 2016
Gokhan Tan/Getty
3/17
A civilian beats a soldier after troops involved in the coup surrendered on the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey, 16 July, 2016
REUTERS/Murad Sezer
4/17
Surrendered Turkish soldiers who were involved in the coup are beaten by a civilian
Reuters
5/17
Soliders involved in the coup attempt surrender on Bosphorus bridge
Getty
6/17
Supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wave flags as they capture a Turkish Army vehicle
Getty
7/17
People pose near a tank after troops involved in the coup surrendered on the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey, 16 July, 2016
A Turkish military stands guard near the Taksim Square in Istanbul
Reuters
10/17
Pierre Crom/Twitter
11/17
Turkish soldiers secure the area as supporters of Recep Tayyip Erdogan protest in Istanbul's Taksim square
AP
12/17
Murad Sezer/Reuters
13/17
Turkish soldiers detain police officers during a security shutdown of the Bosphorus Bridge
Reuters
14/17
Turkish Army armoured personnel carriers in the main streets of Istanbul
Getty
15/17
Chaos reigned in Istanbul as tanks drove through the streets
EPA/TOLGA BOZOGLU
16/17
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan speaks to media in the resort town of Marmaris
Reuters
17/17
Supporters of President Erdogan celebrate in Ankara following the suppression of the attempted coup
Reuters
1/17
Turkish President Erdogan attends the funeral service for victims of the thwarted coup in Istanbul at Fatih mosque on July 17, 2016 in Istanbul, Turkey
Burak Kara/Getty Images
2/17
Soldiers involved in the coup attempt surrender on Bosphorus bridge with their hands raised in Istanbul on 16 July, 2016
Gokhan Tan/Getty
3/17
A civilian beats a soldier after troops involved in the coup surrendered on the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey, 16 July, 2016
REUTERS/Murad Sezer
4/17
Surrendered Turkish soldiers who were involved in the coup are beaten by a civilian
Reuters
5/17
Soliders involved in the coup attempt surrender on Bosphorus bridge
Getty
6/17
Supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wave flags as they capture a Turkish Army vehicle
Getty
7/17
People pose near a tank after troops involved in the coup surrendered on the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey, 16 July, 2016
A Turkish military stands guard near the Taksim Square in Istanbul
Reuters
10/17
Pierre Crom/Twitter
11/17
Turkish soldiers secure the area as supporters of Recep Tayyip Erdogan protest in Istanbul's Taksim square
AP
12/17
Murad Sezer/Reuters
13/17
Turkish soldiers detain police officers during a security shutdown of the Bosphorus Bridge
Reuters
14/17
Turkish Army armoured personnel carriers in the main streets of Istanbul
Getty
15/17
Chaos reigned in Istanbul as tanks drove through the streets
EPA/TOLGA BOZOGLU
16/17
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan speaks to media in the resort town of Marmaris
Reuters
17/17
Supporters of President Erdogan celebrate in Ankara following the suppression of the attempted coup
Reuters
He is now on Turkey’s most-wanted terrorist list and the country has demanded his extradition from the United States where he is in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania.
Mr Gülen is the founder of the Gülen movement, which teaches a moderate Islam which believes in science, multi-party democracy and interfaith dialogue between the Abrahamic religions.
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