Handan Kazancı
July 23, 2016•Update: July 23, 2016
ANKARA
A Turkish public prosecutor on Saturday has assured fair trials for all soldiers linked to the July 15 coup attempt that claimed hundreds of lives.
In remarks made to Anadolu Agency, Ankara chief public prosecutor Harun Kodalak said: “We will immediately separate soldiers who did not fire on people, who did not drive army vehicles over people, who did not know what was happening.”
He said the probe would be different from the Sledgehammer (Balyoz in Turkish or Ergenekon) trials, referring to plots allegedly cooked up by a junta within the Turkish Armed Forces in 2003 to overthrow the elected government, a year after the current ruling Justice and Development Party came to power.
“We will treat them fairly,” he said.
At least 1,200 army officers have been released so far, Kodalak added.
Turkey's government has repeatedly said the deadly coup attempt on July 15, which martyred at least 246 people and injured more than 2,100 others, was organized by followers of U.S.-based cleric Fetullah Gulen.
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.
