New Turkey decrees purge hundreds, extend president power

Six organizations, including three media outlets in the Kurdish areas, were shut down including Dicle Media News Agency, based in the de facto Kurdish-capital of Diyarbakir.

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) - Turkey’s government issued two decrees on Friday purging over 900 state employees from their jobs, ministries, public institutions, and the military and academia, while extending president's power.

In a second decree published in government’s Official Gazette, Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT), which used to report to the prime minister, is now under the control of the President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

In the latest wave of the purge that followed last year’s failed coup, Turkey fired 928, about 100 of which were academic personnel. Authorities also stripped ten retired brigadier generals of their rank.

Six organizations, including three media outlets in the Kurdish areas, were shut down including Dicle Media News Agency, based in the de facto Kurdish-capital of Diyarbakir.

The civil servants are accused of alleged ties to Abdullah Gullen, the Islamic cleric whom Turkey accuses of having masterminded the putsch.

Since July of last year, some 150,000 officials have lost their positions, and over 50,000 people have been jailed, including soldiers, police, civil servants, judges, and prosecutors.

Turkey's Western allies are concerned that an increasingly authoritarian Erdogan is using the state of emergency to crack down on all forms of opposition.

But Erdogan insists extending his power is necessary to ensure Turkey’s security from the multiple threats it faces.

The decrees are part of measures taken to implement changes approved in the April referendum on expanding Erdogan’s powers to create an executive presidency.

As per the second decree, Turkish MIT will also the power to investigate the defense ministry and armed forces personnel.

Moreover, under the new decree, Erdogan’s authorization would be needed for the intelligence chief to be investigated.

The president who will now head a new body called the National Intelligence Coordination Board (MIKK) would need to approve any request made for the MIT head, Hakan Fidan, to act as a witness in court.

Dozens of media outlets including newspapers and broadcasters have been closed down since July last year.

The latest decree also created 32,014 roles in the national security directorate, including 22,000 police officers, as well as 4,000 judges and prosecutors.