Turkish decree increases detention period to 1 month, closes schools, hospitals

ANKARA

The decree ordered closure of 15 private universities.

A decree law released as part of the state of emergency declared late on July 20 following a failed coup increases the legal duration of detention up to 30 days from the current two, as it also orders closure of a number of schools.

Thus, the police is now authorized to keep suspects up to one month before taking them to court.

The military suspects will be taken to the civilian courts.

The same decree ordered closure of 35 hospitals, 1,043 private schools and dormitories, 15 private universities, 1,229 associations and foundations and 19 trade unions for links to Fethullah Gülen, the U.S.-based Islamic scholar who is allegedly behind the coup attempt on July 15.

The decree also allows the Defense Ministry to sack any military personnel.

The decree bans working at state institutions after being suspended from one, in a bid to prevent the suspended public workers' return to their jobs.