PM seeks to defuse CHP's concern about post-coup victims

Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım has sought to defuse the concerns of the Republican People's Party (CHP) head after the main opposition leader gave voice to thousands of people who have suffered from the government's zealous efforts to clear the civil service of suspected members of the Gülenists after the July 15 coup attempt. 

Yıldırım and CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu held a face-to-face meeting on Sept 22 at the Justice and Development Party (AKP) headquarters upon the request of the former. 

According to sources from the office of the prime minister, Yıldırım reassured Kılıçdaroğlu that a post-coup attempt investigation to identify members and sympathizers of Gülenists within the state system was being conducted in a meticulous fashion. Yıldırım also recalled that commissions have been established at governor's offices for people to appeal administrative decisions taken against them.   

The CHP established a commission to collect the complaints of individuals who have either been suspended from the civil service or whose relatives have been detained on alleged links with the Gülen movement in the aftermath of July 15. It said around 37,000 complaints have been registered so far and passed to the relevant offices of the government. The number of people who have suffered from the government's "reckless measures" against suspected Gülenists within the civil service has hit 1 million, the main opposition leader said previously.

In an interview with daily Hürriyet just a day before he was scheduled to meet Kılıçdaroğlu, Yıldırım admitted that there could be mistakes in this process as the Gülenist network is not a transparent organization.
 
"There can be wrong decisions. But we are keeping the way open to correct these...