BREAKING NEWS

Turkey criticizes UN rights boss for comments on failed coup

By REUTERS

AUGUST 13, 2016 12:23

Updated: AUGUST 13, 2016 12:57

ISTANBUL - Turkey on Saturday criticized a top UN human rights official for saying Ankara should stem its "thirst for revenge" after a failed coup attempt and denied people's rights were being violated in a purge of officials and professional ranks.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein called on Ankara this week to uphold the rights of detainees held since the July 15-16 abortive putsch.

Authorities have suspended, detained or begun investigating tens of thousands of soldiers, police, judges, journalists and civil servants.

Turkish foreign ministry spokesman Tanju Bilgic, in a statement, said Zeid's comments were unacceptable.

"It is at best an unfortunate statement for a UN official tasked with guarding human rights to say 'he has no sympathy' for coup plotters instead of condemning these terrorists who have attempted a bloody coup," Bilgic said.

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