Turkish Academics, Students Rally Against Post-Coup Crackdown

Ankara says U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen orchestrated the failed July 15 coup, and has suspended or dismissed more than 100,000 civil servants – including academics, teachers, judges, prosecutors, and soldiers -- over suspected links to the preacher.

Several hundred people have protested in Istanbul against a crackdown on Turkish education staff following the attempted coup in July.

"Shoulder-to-shoulder against fascism," academics, students, and union members chanted in front of Istanbul University on November 3 under the watch of riot police.

Ankara says U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen orchestrated the failed July 15 coup, and has suspended or dismissed more than 100,000 civil servants – including academics, teachers, judges, prosecutors, and soldiers -- over suspected links to the preacher.

Some 37,000 people have also been jailed pending trial.

On November 3, the Interior Ministry announced that more than 1,200 military personnel from the gendarmerie had been dismissed.

Gulen, who is living in self-imposed exile in the United States, has denied involvement in the attempted coup.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP