Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan.28
By Rufiz Hafizoglu- Trend:
All applicants for employment in government agencies will be thoroughly tested in order to prevent the penetration of supporters of Gulen (Islamic community leader, currently residing in the United States) into the state structures of Turkey, Haber7 channel said Jan.28 with reference to the Minister of Transport, Shipping and Communications of Turkey Lutfi Elvan.
It is reported that in addition, their candidatures must be approved by the country's intelligence service.
Elvan said that such measures will be taken in a number of ministries of Turkey, including his department as well.
It was earlier reported that a large-scale reshuffle is expected in Turkey's state structures as part of fighting Fethullah Gulen's movement.
It is expected that almost all heads of Turkey's state structures will be dismissed.
Turkish media reported on Feb. 5, 2014 that in 2011, the telephone conversations of about 7,000 people associated with the representatives of both the ruling and opposition parties, including family members of the prime minister, were wiretapped as part of an anti-terrorist operation carried out by Istanbul prosecutor's office against "Salam" terrorist organization.
During the anti-terrorist operations, telephone conversations of the head of the Turkish intelligence, Hakan Fidan were wiretapped as well.
The then prime minister of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Gulen of standing behind the wiretapping of the phone conversations.
Erdogan stressed that the Gulen movement with its anti-state activities proved that it is not a religious movement, but a politicized and illegal structure.
He also called on Fethullah Gulen not to intervene in Turkey's internal affairs and accused the US of supporting him.
Erdogan also previously said that Gulen would be extradited from the US. However, the US authorities said that an extradition is inadmissible.
Earlier, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Ankara would make every effort to achieve the extradition of Gulen.
Turkish police periodically conduct operations to arrest supporters of Gulen. On January 20, some 19 people were detained in Turkey as part of the regular raids.
Edited by CN
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