Watchdog

Turkey has dismissed a further 15,000 people from the military, police, and the civil service as part of an ongoing crackdown over the July failed coup attempt.

The government has also shut down some 375 associations, including leading rights groups.

"The closure of nearly 400 NGOs is part of an ongoing and systematic attempt by the Turkish authorities to permanently silence all critical voices," Amnesty International's Europe Director, John Dalhuisen, said.

Amnesty said the groups closed included associations working on torture prevention, women's rights groups working against domestic violence, and local NGOs helping refugees.

Tens of thousands of people have been dismissed or suspended from government jobs since July's failed coup, while more than 32,000 people have been arrested in connection with the coup bid.

The Turkish government accuses U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen of masterminding the coup.

Gulen denies any involvement in the plot.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on November 22 that the civil service was still not entirely purged of Gulen's followers while vowing to take necessary measures to eradicate the group.

"We won't allow them to destroy this country nor to crush the people. We will do whatever is necessary," Erdogan said.

Based on reporting by AP, DPA and AFP

An international rights group has urged the Afghan government to develop a "security plan" to better protect the minority Shi'a community during high-profile public events.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) made the call in a statement on November 21, a day after a suicide bomber killed at least 30 worshipers at a Shi'ite mosque in Kabul during the observance of a religious ceremony.

Militants affiliated with the extremist Islamic State (IS) group claimed responsibility for the attack -- their fourth on gatherings by Afghanistan’s Shi'a community since July, according to HRW.

The New York-based group also said that sectarian suicide attacks have injured or killed more than 500 Shi'a in Afghanistan since July.

The IS group has "stepped up its horrific and unlawful attacks" on Shi'ite public gatherings, "making no place safe," HRW researcher Patricia Gossman said.

"The government, Shi'a leaders, and civil society groups should work together to develop appropriate ways to improve security during vulnerable public and religious gatherings [...] so that Shi'a community members can exercise their basic rights," she added.