Turkish Prosecutors Demand Life Sentence for 62 Coup Attempt Participants

The 62 members of the military personnel, who participated in the July coup attempt, face life imprisonment, as Prosecutor’s Office in Istanbul has brought first indictments against them, local media reported Monday.

ANKARA (Sputnik) – According to the NTV broadcaster, the prosecutors demanded triple life sentences for 62 servicemen, including 28 officers, who tried to seize Sabiha Gokcen airport in Istanbul.

On July 15, a military coup attempt took place in Turkey. It was suppressed the following day. Over 240 people were killed during the thwarted coup and an estimated 2,000 were wounded.

Ankara accused Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, who has been living in the United States since 1999, of playing a key role in the coup and has repeatedly called on the incumbent US administration led by President Barack Obama to extradite the cleric. Gulen has condemned the coup and denied the allegations.

Since July, Turkey has arrested hundreds of military personnel, activists and journalists on suspicion of links with the cleric.