More than 10,000 Turkey soldiers have been arrested for the failed coup attempt on Friday, July 15. Of these arrests, 62 have been identified as teenagers ranging from 14 to 17-years-old. It is alleged that authorities have not allowed the children to contact their parents. Their crime? Treason.
Turkey Coup: The Children Were Coerced
According to The Sun, the teenagers are actually students of the Kuleli Military school in Istanbul, known as one of Turkey's oldest institutions. Allegedly, the students had been instructed to wear camouflage uniforms and carry guns without bullets. Their parents believe the kids have been forced and used to carry out the coup attempt.
One mom told the press that her son, Emre (not his real name), 15, was invited by the military school to a cocktail party before the coup, as a way to celebrate after an exam. Emre went, but by dawn, her mother received a worrying phone call from the boy. "They made us wear uniforms and gave us empty guns. They told us to guard the school," said Emre to his mom, per Telegraph.
Emre's mom described the act as "worse than any other terror attack." She has not yet spoken to her boy since that phone call, and along with the families of the other kids and their lawyers, they worry that the children will not get a fair trial in court.
Turkey Coup: Detainees Tortured, Raped, Starved
According to News Corp Australia, there have also been alarming reports that other detainees are being tortured, raped and starved by Turkish authorities. Amnesty International is already on the case of these alleged human rights violations and have asked for access to the coup prisoners.
Ten thousand Turkey coup prisoners 'raped, starved and hogtied' https://t.co/ttd7gTmQ9h pic.twitter.com/shGiFM4MQ9
— Daily Mirror (@DailyMirror) July 24, 2016
Turkey Coup: Who Was Behind It?
Turkey's failed coup that Friday was said to be carried out by Gulenist officers or supporters of Fethullah Gulen, a prominent political figure in the country who has exiled in the United States. Gulen's supporters are allegedly part of a cult with its own set of rules and objectives. According to Al Jazeera, Gulenist members follow both religious practices and government laws in Turkey in an effort to cover their affiliation. They even became part of government service, including the military. But the group has a long-established plans to infiltrate the government.
However, the coup attempt last Friday was carried out prematurely after learning that the current government was aware of their plans. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged the public to protest the coup and by evening, the uprising has been "repelled," her Vox.
It was not without any casualty though. CNN reports that the failed Turkey coup attempt resulted in 290 deaths and 1,400 injuries. Then there's the matter with the thousands of detainees and the teenagers who have yet to speak to their parents. Turkey has declared it is under a 3-month state of emergency, which means laws to curb rebellion will be strictly enforced.
