A Turkish court today gave life sentences to 24 people including senior military officers for their part in the 2016 failed coup that aimed to overthrow President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
State news agency Anadolu reported that the court handed 17 of the 24 people consecutive life terms for violating the constitution and attempting to assassinate the President.
Former Air Force chief Akin Ozturk and Mehmet Disli, the brother of former ruling party lawmaker Saban Disli, who since September has served as Turkey’s ambassador to the Netherlands, were among the 17.
More sentences are expected to be handed down against others among the 224 suspects on trial. Among them is US-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen whom Turkey accuses of ordering the attempted putsch which left hundreds dead and thousands more injured in July 2016. Gulen strongly denies the claims. Turkey has failed to secure his extradition.