Turkey: 758 soldiers detained post-foiled coup released
Istanbul judge releases 758 out of 989 soldiers detained at the recommendation of prosecutors
A group of soldiers, attended "Parallel State/Gulenist Terrorist Organization"s coup attempt, were being taken under custody as they try to storm into Turkish Defense Ministry Headquarters in Ankara, Turkey on July 16, 2016. (Sinan Yiter - Anadolu Agency)
ISTANBUL
A total of 758 out of 989 soldiers who had been detained on suspicion of being involved in the July 15 coup attempt were released on Saturday.
The soldiers, including military students, had been detained under an investigation by Istanbul prosecutors, and were released on the prosecutors’ recommendation after giving testimony.
An Istanbul judge decided to release the 758 soldiers, calling their detention unnecessary.
Meanwhile, 231 soldiers remain detained.
Turkey's government has repeatedly said the deadly coup attempt, which martyred more than 230 people and injured nearly 2,200 others, was organized by U.S.-based preacher Fetullah Gulen's followers and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO).
Gulen is also accused of a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary, forming what is commonly known as the parallel state.
Turkey declared a state of emergency following the overthrow attempt.
Approximately 13,000 members of the military, police, and judiciary, as well as civil servants, have been detained since the failed putsch, and tens of thousands more removed from their posts.
* Tutku Umac contributed to this story from Ankara.
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