32 Turkish diplomats ignored recall to Ankara after coup

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Tens of Turkish diplomats recalled to Ankara after the failed coup attempt have not returned to Turkey but have fled to other countries, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Friday.

 

After the failed coup attempt, 208 diplomats around the world were recalled, but 32 of them have not returned, Cavusoglu said during a joint press conference with the Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

 

“Some of them escaped by sea, some of them escaped by air,” Cavusoglu said, adding that two of the diplomats based in Bangladesh fled to the United States.

 

“Some of them we have not confirmed their whereabouts,” he continued. “We will locate them shortly.”

 

There are also 216 soldiers who have disappeared after the attempted coup. Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus warned earlier this week that they could “engage in individual actions and assassinations,” when speaking with Turkish broadcaster Haberturk.

 

Meanwhile Anadolu news agency reported on Friday that a court in Turkey ordered the forfeiture of the assets of Hakan Sukur, a well-known Turkish football player. He was accused of having ties with the Gulen movement, which Ankara blames for instigating the coup.

 

44-year old Sukur played in 112 games for Turkish National Football Team.

 

After a failed military coup attempt in July, Turkey has arrested thousands of generals, teachers, police officers and judges.