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dateline: 20 July 2016

Listen to NewsThousands Arrested after Failed Coup in Turkey

Pre-Listening Vocabulary

  • state of emergency: a temporary period following a major disaster or act of violence in which the government can exercise extra powers
  • coup: a sudden effort to overthrow the government
  • bypass: to use a different method or go a different way; to skip a step
  • detain: to hold in custody
  • link: to connect
  • dissent: an expression of disagreement with leadership
  • cleric: a religious leader

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Thousands Arrested after Failed Coup in Turkey

President Erdogan announced a three-month state of emergency for Turkey following a military coup last Friday. A state of emergency makes it easier for the government to arrest people. The government can also bypass parliament in order to create laws. Erdogan his decision, saying it was to preserve democracy. More than 7,000 people have been detained in relation to the attempted coup, including a third of the nation’s top military officials. Thousands of teachers, , and police officers also lost their jobs after being linked to a cleric who promotes government dissent.

Comprehension Questions

  1. What announcement did the president of Turkey make this week?
  2. What reason did the president give for this announcement?
  3. Who lost their jobs in Turkey this week, and why?

Discussion Questions: President Erdogan said that the people involved in the coup will pay a heavy price for “treason”, which may include reintroducing the death penalty. Will this threat result in more dissent in Turkey?

show Answers

Written by Tara Benwell for EnglishClub
Tara Benwell is a Canadian freelance writer and editor who specializes in materials and articles for the ELT industry.

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