Trial begins for 44 suspected of Erdogan assassination attempt

Feb. 20 (UPI) -- The trial of 44 people suspected of attempting to assassinate Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during July's coup attempt began Monday in Mugla, Turkey.

All are alleged supporters of Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen, who lives in the United States. Erdogan says Gulen is responsible for a long-running campaign to overthrow the government through infiltration of Turkish government institutions, including the courts, the army and the police. Three others, including Gulen, were charged in the assassination attempt and are on the wanted list.

During the coup attempt, the suspects allegedly attacked a hotel in the Turkish resort city of Marmaris where Erdogan was staying. He escaped minutes before the attack. Two police officers died in the hotel attack, and violence in Turkey's major cities left at least 248 people dead and another 2,200 injured.

All 44 suspects have been jailed since July, and Erdogan's administration has systematically purged more than 100,000 alleged supporters of Gulen from government positions.

The trail began Monday, under tight security, with a court hearing in a conference hall in Mugla's Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The prosecutor said he seeks at least six consecutive life sentences for each of the accused. They are charged with attempting to kill the president, attempting to overthrow the constitutional order, crimes against the government, leading an armed terrorist organization and the killing of an official.