Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) İstanbul deputy Mahmut Tanal has said the ministries of justice, health and internal affairs are controlled by the Menzil movement, a sub-branch of the Naksibendi sect.
Arguing that failing to prioritize merit leads to discrimination and inequality, Tanal said: “The internal affairs, justice and health ministries are currently controlled by the Menzil movement. Police officers are asking for references from Menzil for appointments and promotions. How could that be possible?”
After Turkey experienced a botched coup attempt on July 15, 2016, the government initiated a widespread purge aimed at cleansing sympathizers of the Gülen movement, which is blamed for mounting the coup, from within state institutions.
While Gülen movement has denied having any link to the coup, the government has been criticized for using the coup attempt as an excuse to purge judges and prosecutors and replace them with names close to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
CHP İstanbul deputy Barış Yarkadaş recently said the AKP government had recruited for the position of judge 800 lawyers who had ties to the party.
A government plan was announced last year to name 8,000 new judges and prosecutors as replacements for the more than 4,000 dismissed since July 15.