Emergency rule commission responds to 36,000 appeals

ANKARA

A commission formed to investigate controversial state of emergency measures in Turkey has concluded 36,000 of the 125,000 appeals since its first decision on Dec. 22, 2017.

Some 2,300 appeals were responded to in favor of the applicant whereas 33,700 applications for appeal were rejected, the State of Emergency Procedures Investigation Commission said in a statement on Oct. 5.

Some 89,000 appeals were being examined, it added.

The commission—set up to evaluate the appeals of those dismissed, as well as the foundations and associations closed with emergency decrees—started receiving complaints on July 17, 2017.

Thousands of public workers and security personnel in Turkey have been dismissed from their posts with state of emergency decrees over suspected links to the movement of the United States-based preacher Fethullah Gülen, who is believed to have masterminded the failed July 15, 2016 coup attempt in which 250 people were killed across the country.

Applicants include some associations and grantee students as well.

Those whose appeals were rejected have the right to apply to administrative courts in the capital Ankara within 60 days.

Thousands of others have been put behind bars on terrorism charges and suspected links to the FETÖ.