[JURIST] Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag [official official, in Turkish] said [NTV report] Wednesday that approximately 32,000 people have been arrested in relation to the recent coup attempt, and 70,000 have been questioned. Bozdag indicated the country will have to build more courts in order to try those accused in the coup attempt. Construction has already begun on a new courthouse [Reuters report] near Ankara. The Justice Minister also noted that the US is expected to cooperate with the extradition of Pennsylvania-based cleric Fethullah Gulen.

The aftermath of the failed coup attempt continues as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed [JURIST report] that those involved in the coup would “pay a heavy price.” Last month a group of human rights experts for the UN called upon [JURIST report] Turkey’s government to uphold its international human rights obligations, despite declared emergency following failed coup. Also last month an Istanbul court issued an arrest warrant [JURIST report] for Gullen on charges of orchestrating the attempted coup. Also last month Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland traveled [JURIST report] toTurkey to meet with a variety of Turkish officials to urge for respect for the rule of law. In July Amnesty International condemned [JURIST report] Turkey’s decision to issue arrest warrants for 42 journalists. Also in July Erdogan ordered[JURIST report] the closure of thousands of private schools, charities and other institutions.