A number of Turkish officers posted to NATO have sought asylum since the country’s failed military coup in July, Nato’s Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg said, adding that the officers had requested asylum in the countries where they had been posted but gave no names, numbers or reasons for the requests.
The countries involved will consider the cases individually. Turkey has dismissed, suspended, detained or arrested tens of thousands of people since the July coup attempt. Many have been in the military, although others are teachers, policemen, judges and journalists.
The Turkish government’s crackdown has targeted those it suspects of having links with Fethullah Gulen. Turkish government says has blamed the cleric to be the mastermind behind the coup attempt.
He lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania in the United States and has denied any involvement. Mr Stoltenberg said today that some Turkish officers working in the Nato command structure, have requested asylum in the countries where they are working.