50 Turkish academics dismissed from Azerbaijan college over Gülen links

50 Turkish academics dismissed from Azerbaijan college over Gülen links

BAKU - Anadolu Agency
50 Turkish academics dismissed from Azerbaijan college over Gülen links

REUTERS photo

Fifty Turkish academics employed at an Azerbaijani university will not have their contracts renewed, it was announced on Aug. 17.    

According to Elmar Gasimov, the rector of the state-run Baku Higher Oil School, the dismissed academics - including professors, department heads and deans – worked at Qafqaz University in the capital, Baku.      
 
Gasimov said the university had assigned Azerbaijani academics in place of the dismissed staff, suspected of links to what the Turkish government calls the Fetullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), believed to be behind the failed July 15 coup attempt. 

The Turkish teachers will leave the country by the end of August, he added.        

Established in 1993, Qafqaz University was known as the first university linked to the U.S.-based Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen. 

The college was brought under the control of the Baku Higher Oil School after the failed takeover bid last month. 

At least 240 people were killed in the coup attempt in Turkey, while more than 2,000 were wounded.