Erdogan cancels 72,000 Turkish passports

President Recep Erdogan of Turkey has revoked the passports of 72,000 citizens, in an apparent crackdown after the July 15 failed coup. Reports said an attempt to enforce the action through the International Police (Interpol) was blocked. Inside sources said the Turkish government has now concluded plans to use its various embassies to inform foreign […]

President Recep Erdogan of Turkey has revoked the passports of 72,000 citizens, in an apparent crackdown after the July 15 failed coup.
Reports said an attempt to enforce the action through the International Police (Interpol) was blocked.
Inside sources said the Turkish government has now concluded plans to use its various embassies to inform foreign governments of the cancelation of the passports.  This, it hoped, would force them to review the affected citizens’ legal status, which might lead to their repatriation.
It comes after the Turkish Government shutdown 130 media outlets in a mass purge of the media following the coup attempt.
The Director of U.S. National Intelligence, James Clapper, said on Thursday the purges were harming the fight against ISIS in Syria and Iraq by sweeping away Turkish officers who had worked closely with the United States.