RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN

Turkey president orders closure of schools as part of sweeping crackdown after failed military coup In his first decree since imposing a state of emergency, Erdogan extended police powers and shuttered 1,043 private schools and 1,229 associations and foundations 2 Saturday’s move is just the latest targeting the education sector. The government has already sacked thousands of teachers and university lecturers, who have also been barred from overseas travel 3 Erdogan also criticised Western countries that expressed concern about possible human rights violations. “They will only see (the necessity) once all the political leaders of Turkey are killed,” he said.