Government unable to reach Canadians detained in connection with Turkish coup

OTTAWA – Canadian diplomats in Turkey have not been able to meet with two Turkish Canadians arrested and detained in connection with a failed coup in that country earlier this month.

Global Affairs Canada will not name the two Canadians, citing privacy laws, but friends and family have identified them as Davud Hanci and Ilhan Erdem.

Hanci lives and works in Calgary, while Erdem lived in Toronto and Ottawa before returning to Turkey.

Both men are dual nationals who were arrested this month. Turkish media say they are accused of being associates of Fethullah Gulen, the U.S.-based cleric that the Turkish government accuses of masterminding the July 15 coup attempt that killed more than 200 people.

A government source says that while Canadian officials have been in contact with Turkish authorities and are providing assistance to the men’s families, they have not been able to meet with Hanci and Erdem.

According to the U.S. State Department, the Turkish government does not permit Turks with two nationalities and who are arrested in Turkey to contact officials from the other country for help.

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