Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave signals that Turkey might reinstate capital punishment in the wake of Friday’s failed coup attempt.
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Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, 75, spoke to reporters Sunday through an interpreter at his home in Saylorsburg, Pa.
The first serious clash between Mr Erdogan and the military arose in 2007 after the Turkish parliament selected a new president to replace the departing secularist head of state. His speech was punctuated by frequent calls of “we want the death penalty” from the large crowd, to which Erdogan responded: “We hear your request”.
Over the weekend, European Union leaders had voiced support for Erdogan and the elected Turkish government against a shadowy uprising by parts of the armed force but, after years of growing alarm at Erdogan’s bid to enhance his personal power and ignore or oppress opponents, they also urged him to respect the rule of law and the “checks and balances” of Turkey’s constitution.
“Those who launch a coup will have to pay the price for it”, Erdogan told supporters.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said that the United States would entertain an extradition request for Gulen but that Turkey would have to present “legitimate evidence that withstands scrutiny”. “Unfortunately like a cancer, this virus has enveloped the state. Deliver him to Turkey”.
Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said the perpetrators of Friday’s failed coup “will receive every punishment they deserve”, and the government said it would take steps toward extraditing a USA -based cleric it accused of fomenting the uprising.
“In democracies, decisions are made based on what the people say”.
Erdogan and Gulen used to be buddies.
At least 265 people were killed and more than 1,400 were wounded during the failed coup, the AP reported.
Meanwhile, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek has said on his official Twitter account that political stability in Turkey has been strengthened after the attempted takeover.
Turkey is a key USA ally and a member of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. The violent events that took place overnight into Saturday were followed by mass purges in the military and judiciary, with more than 6,000 people arrested, including generals, judges and prosecutors.
A senior Turkish official confirmed to Reuters that Erdogan’s business jet had been harassed while flying from the airport that serves Marmaris by two F-16s commandeered by the coup plotters but that he had managed to reach Istanbul safely. In addition, Anadolu reported that seven people, including a colonel, were detained at an air base in the central Anatolian city of Konya.
The state-run news agency Anadolu later reported the fighting had come to an end and said six military personnel were arrested.
Turkey accuses Gulen of being behind the coup and called for him to return to Turkey to face trial.
In response, Kerry pointedly said that Turkey should produce evidence of Gulen’s guilt, amid concerns that Erdogan was using the aftermath of the coup to settle scores with enemies both at home and overseas.
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Turkish Airlines says it has canceled 196 domestic and worldwide flights in and out of Istanbul due to disruptions in air traffic brought on by Friday night’s attempted coup.
