Davud Hanci is one of two dual Canadian-Turkish citizens currently being held in Turkey in the wake of the July 15 failed coup. So far, Canadian diplomats have been rebuffed in attempts to meet with them. We see a man from the shoulders up. His dark hair is beginning to recede. He has dark eyes wears a thin moustache.

Davud Hanci is one of two dual Canadian-Turkish citizens currently being held in Turkey in the wake of the July 15 failed coup. So far, Canadian diplomats have been rebuffed in attempts to meet with them.
Photo Credit: cbc.ca

Diplomats in Turkey press to meet Canadian detainees

Canadian consular officials in Turkey are continuing to try to meet with two Canadian-Turkish dual citizens arrested in the wake of the July 15 failed coup.

Davud Hanci and Ilhan Erdem are accused of being key supporters of U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Turkish authorities say was behind the coup attempt.

Erdem lived in Toronto and Ottawa before moving back to Turkey after getting his Canadian citizenship.

He is accused of leading the Gulen movement in Canada and was arrested Monday as he prepared to return to Canada with his wife and two children.

Friends say he has been working as an education consultant in Turkey for the past three years.

Hanci lives in Calgary and is an imam for both the federal and the Alberta correctional services. He was arrested last weekend.

Turkey says he is a close associate of Gulen and helped plan the coup attempt.

Friends and relatives say he was in Turkey for a holiday with his wife and two sons and to visit his ailing father.

Turkey imposed a three-month state of emergency last week and authorities
have detained or dismissed tens of thousands of people.

Authorities allege that Gulen supporters infiltrated state agencies and schools as part of a plan to take over the country.

Gulen, who lives in Pennsylvania, denies the allegations.

With files from CBC and CP.

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