ANKARA (Sputnik) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed Wednesday his satisfaction with the decision of Pakistan to deport some 100 teachers of schools allegedly linked to US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, accused by Ankara of staging a coup attempt.
"The Pakistani authorities have begun the eradication of Gulen supporters in the country, the education ministry is doing everything that is necessary. You heard of the demand for them to leave the country, we were very pleased," Erdogan said ahead of his flight to Pakistan.
The school chain, in turn, expressed their concern over media trying to connect it to Gulen and his political movement, denying any links.
On July 15, an attempted coup took place in Turkey and was suppressed the following day. Over 240 people were killed during the coup attempt and an estimated 2,000 were wounded. Ankara has accused Gulen and his followers of playing a key role in the coup. Gulen has denied the accusations.