Turkey coup trial: Court jails 104 ex-military officers for life
Istanbul, May 22: A Turkish court has sentenced 104 former military officers to life in prison for their involvement in a 2016 coup attempt, state media report.
They were given "aggravated life sentences", which come with tougher terms than a normal life sentence, BBC reported on Tuesday.
The country's president had previously said he backed reintroducing the death penalty for coup plotters. The failed coup to overthrow President Recep Tayyip Erdogan left at least 260 dead and 2,200 injured on 15 July 2016.
The Turkish government has since led a crackdown on alleged coup supporters, with the dismissal of more than 150,000 state employees and the arrest of some 50,000 people.
Of the 280 ex-military people on trial, the court in Izmir also served lesser sentences to a further 52 defendants.
Sitting in Izmir in western Turkey, the court gave 21 people 20 years in prison for "assisting the assassination of the president", while 31 others were sentenced to between seven and 11 years for "membership of a terrorist organisation", state news agency Anadolu reported.
President Erdogan had backed reintroducing the death penalty for coup plotters. He also said they should wear Guantanamo Bay-style uniforms. Turkey abolished the death penalty in 2004.
The Turkish authorities accused a movement loyal to the Muslim cleric, Fethullah Gulen, of organising the 2016 plot.
Gulen, who has been in self-imposed exile in the US since 1999, denies any involvement, and Washington has so far resisted calls from the Turkish authorities to extradite him.
Rebel soldiers had attempted to overthrow the government overnight and plotters tried to detain Mr Erdogan as he holidayed in an Aegean resort.
However, he had left 15 minutes before and the coup was thwarted by civilians and soldiers loyal to the president.
A purge followed the coup, in which thousands of public employees from police officers to teachers were sacked or arrested under suspicion of stirring up dissent.
Erdogan's critics say he is using the purge to stifle political dissent.
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Indian Nawayath Forum to host INF Trade Expo 2025 in Bhatkal
Bhatkal: The Indian Nawayath Forum (INF) has announced the organization of the INF Trade Expo 2025, scheduled to take place from January 11 to 15, 2025, at NH 66, near the Ice Factory, opposite the Indian Oil Petrol Pump in Bhatkal. The announcement was made by Arshad Mohtisham, President of the Indian Nawayath Forum, during a press conference held at the INF office on Sunday, located opposite Kazia’s Bunglow.
Mohtisham stated that the expo aims to open new avenues for growth for traders and entrepreneurs, providing a platform for the empowerment of local businesses. The event is set to be a significant boost for the business sector in the region, much like the previous INF Trade Expo in 2022, which saw the participation of over 180 exhibitors and attracted a large number of visitors.
For the 2025 edition, Mohtisham shared that the expo will be bigger, better, and more effective, with more than 200 stalls expected to be set up and over 20,000 visitors anticipated. The expo will not only feature a wide range of local businesses but also offer workshops and networking opportunities designed to benefit entrepreneurs.
These sessions will include guidance on business registration, food industry regulations, packaging techniques, tips for starting up businesses on e-commerce platforms, inventory management, and billing technologies. The workshops will be conducted by chartered accountants and industry experts.
To reserve stalls, interested parties can either fill out the registration form or visit the INF office. For further information, individuals can contact the following numbers: 7022020454, 9353151493, or 9741803006.
The press conference was also attended by Majid Jukaku, Secretary and Convener of INF Trade Expo 2025, along with executive members Faizan Barmawar, Aftab Kola, Imtiaz Damda, Tanveer Motia, Qamar Uzzama Motia, and Harris Shabandari.
