Academics and students protest post-coup crackdown in Turkey

Academics, students and trade unionists have staged a protest at Ankara University against government purges since Turkey’s failed military coup in July.

New #Turkey in one picture: Police men are stepping on the gowns that the academics laid on the floor in protest #Ankara pic.twitter.com/t7wQHxt47h— Cahida Dêrsim (@dersi4m) February 10, 2017

On Wednesday 330 academics were amongst 4,400 civil servants summarily stripped of their jobs.

University academics protesting firing of academics with the emergency decree brutally attacked by the police in front of Ankara University. pic.twitter.com/rIZTyUUqPO— Turkey Untold (@TurkeyUntold) February 10, 2017

Turkey has already removed or suspended more than 125,000 people and formally arrested 40,000 since the attempted coup during which rogue soldiers tried to overthrow the government and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Veli Agbaba, is from the main CHP opposition:
“Unfortunately, one of Turkey’s long-established universities is under attack. I think they are clearing the path to the referendum The government is trying to silence all opponents.”

Turkey’s Erdogan approves bill which will give him unprecedented powers https://t.co/s89GgqLTEu— The Independent (@Independent) February 10, 2017

It comes as Erdoğan has given his official approval for a referendum on constitutional change to go ahead on April 16.

Opponents say the ballot is a power grab by the president to concentrate authority in his office.