Amnesty International insists there were “credible grounds” eight people, including politicians, had forcibly disappeared after criticising the Government, Director of European and Central Asia program Human Rights Watch Hugh Williamson said.

The organisation documented 10 cases since May last year. Another two abductions took place in June. All but one of those men are still missing.

According to Human Rights Watch, four of the missing men all lost their jobs during the state of emergency declared after last year’s failed coup on President Recep Erdogan.

All have alleged links to exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen – who the president accuses of trying to overthrow him.