Turkey imposed a three-month state of emergency on Thursday as the government struggles to solidify its authority against enemies of the state, reports confirm. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ordered an arrest of every suspect behind the failed military coup–a process which has since relieved some 50,000 alleged sympathizers in state offices of their jobs.
An estimated total of 9,200 alleged coup plotters have also been detained.
Erdogan’s government is taking every ‘necessary step’ that’ll forestall a second coup attempt, and has therefore suspended a key European rights convention with a 3-month state of emergency law enacted Thursday July 21.
Turkey’s withdrawal from the convention remains a shock among international organizations as the country has been warned by EU and NATO, to consider the consequences of imposing the death penalty on coup plotters.
For the first time since 2002 [the year before he assumed office as the country’s prime minister], Turkey declared a state of emergency.
The enactment was a follow-up action after the president held a marathon meeting with his national security council on Wednesday, reports confirm.
The imposition came barely a week after some alleged rebel soldiers took to the streets with armored tanks, bombing the country’s parliament and shooting protesters. The bloody night attack left a total of 265 people dead.
A report quotes Erdogan as saying that the emergency law would allow Turkey to be cleared of “terrorists” linked to US-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen, whom he accuses of orchestrating the failed coup from his leafy compound in Pennsylvania, adding that “democracy would not be compromised”.
The extra powers, to restrict freedom of movement and other rights, were needed “to remove swiftly all the elements of the terrorist organization involved in the coup attempt,” Erdogan said.
Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said the special measures may only last up to 45 days, insisting that “we want to end the state of emergency as soon as possible.”
Asked about whether the government may impose curfews, Kurtulmus said: “Very clearly no. This is not a declaration of martial law.”
But he also said Turkey will suspend the European Convention on Human Rights, saying France had done the same after being targeted by a string of jihadist attacks.
“The road to arbitrary rule, unlawful behavior, feeding on violence, has been chosen,” complained the opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP).
“Society has been forced to choose between a coup or an undemocratic government.”
You must log in to post a comment.