Will the US cave into Erdogan’s extradition demand?

The three-month school summer recess began in Turkey just over four weeks ago. But for some teachers they may never see the inside of a school here again. As part of President Erdogan’s post-failed coup cleansing, 21,000 teachers have had their licenses revoked. I’ll say that again, 21,000 teachers have had their licenses revoked. Why? It’s simple, they’ve been accused of having links to a movement which Turkey has proscribed a terrorist organisation. In reality this is McCarthyism playing out in the 21st century.

The group they’ve been associated with is an Islamic and social movement led by a cleric called Fethullah Gulen. It funds private schools and universities in more than 180 countries. Until a week ago, that included Turkey. No more. Fethullah Gulen has been directly accused by the Turkish President in a TV interview of masterminding the 15 July attempted coup. He has strongly denied any involvement, but anyone with any inkling of a link to his movement is now being sniffed out.

‘Due process will be followed, the law of the land will be adhered to,’ is to paraphrase what Turkey’s Prime Minister, Binali Yildirim (whose surname means lightening) has said in relation to the thousands who’ve been detained and accused of links to Gulen.