Turkey frees 1,200 soldiers detained after coup bid: prosecutor
'No innocent person shall be punished. And the courts will make those decisions'
Surrendered Turkish soldiers who were involved in the coup are surrounded by people on Bosphorus bridge in Istanbul, Turkey, July 16, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS
ANKARA:
Turkey has freed 1,200 soldiers detained after the failed military coup, a top prosecutor said on Saturday, in its first major release of suspects amid global criticism of the crackdown.
Erdogan tells French FM to 'mind own business' over post-coup crackdown warning
Those released were privates, Ankara's chief prosecutor Harun Kodalak was quoted as saying by Turkish media, adding that the authorities were seeking to swiftly sort out those who had fired on the people from those who did not.
There have been fears that many of the over 7,400 soldiers detained in the wake of the coup were young conscripts who had no idea what was going on.
Turkey can hold suspects without charge for up to 30 days: official
"We are committed to moving forward with the legal process diligently," said a Turkish official, confirming the prosecutor's comments on the release.
"No innocent person shall be punished. And the courts will make those decisions."
Turkey has freed 1,200 soldiers detained after the failed military coup, a top prosecutor said on Saturday, in its first major release of suspects amid global criticism of the crackdown.
Erdogan tells French FM to 'mind own business' over post-coup crackdown warning
Those released were privates, Ankara's chief prosecutor Harun Kodalak was quoted as saying by Turkish media, adding that the authorities were seeking to swiftly sort out those who had fired on the people from those who did not.
There have been fears that many of the over 7,400 soldiers detained in the wake of the coup were young conscripts who had no idea what was going on.
Turkey can hold suspects without charge for up to 30 days: official
"We are committed to moving forward with the legal process diligently," said a Turkish official, confirming the prosecutor's comments on the release.
"No innocent person shall be punished. And the courts will make those decisions."