Former soldiers victimized by Gülenists struggle to make a living, seek return to army

Soldiers victimized in previous years by followers of the U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen have been trying to make a living working in various different professions, while harboring hopes of returning to the Turkish Armed Forces. 

Many soldiers were dismissed from the military in plots conspired by the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), particularly from around 2012 to 2014, for replacement by Gülen-linked soldiers, who are now widely thought to have been behind the July 15, 2016, failed coup attempt. 

Among those victimized at the time, some now work selling bagels on the streets, running teahouses and breeding birds.

Most of the officers were dismissed from the army on spurious accusations, including "engaging in behavior that humiliates the army," "not living in accordance with the traditions, customs and the structure of Turkish society," and "addiction to drugs, gambling and immorality." 

One of the dismissed soldiers, Air Force Sergeant Bahadır Çınar said they were "questioned in an unlawful way" before their dismissal. 

"They took our testimonies after playing with our psychology. They asked us questions like, 'What is your sexual orientation?' 'Did you have many girlfriends?' 'Do you watch porn?' and 'Do you consume alcohol?'" Çınar told daily Hürriyet on Sept. 4, adding that Gülen sympathizers in the army produced false evidence against them. 

"They did this in order to establish obedience in the army years before the attempted takeover. It was planned long before the uprising [coup attempt]. After being dismissed from the army I started to run a teahouse in [the western province of] İzmir," Çınar said. 

"My legal struggle in the Constitutional Court is ongoing It's been four...