The state of emergency in Turkey will allow Erdogan to bypass parliament to pass laws, and to temporarily suspend any rights or freedoms they deem necessary to maintain order.
Advertisement
He further promised that the special measures, which vastly increase state security powers, would not be a “compromise on democracy”.
Following the attempt, President Erdogan has ordered the arrests of thousands of people as he tries to regain control over the country.
Earlier, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier urged Turkey to maintain a sense of proportionality in its response to the coup attempt.
In the aftermath of a failed military coup last Friday, July 15, the government of Turkey is pointing fingers wherever it can.
“It is ridiculous, irresponsible and false to suggest I had anything to do with the horrific failed coup“, he said.
He identified “structural and individual” intelligence failures during the coup attempt and also said that work was under way to restructure the army, NTV reported.
Turkey will follow in the footsteps of France, which also opted out of some of the convention’s aspects during an emergency state implemented in November 2015 after terrorist attacks in Paris killed 130 people. State media estimate the total is nearing 60,000 people.
The government blames the coup attempt on cleric Fethullah Gulen, who resides in Pennsylvania, and has requested his extradition from the U.S.
In Greece, a court sentenced eight Turkish military personnel who fled there aboard a helicopter during the coup attempt to two months in prison for entering the country illegally. The eight, who deny involvement, have applied for asylum saying they fear for their safety if they are returned.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is to chair meetings of his national security council and cabinet in Ankara.
The drastic post-coup actions have some speculating Erdogan will revive Turkey’s death penalty, which was abolished in 2004.
Advertisement
“This practice is absolutely not against democracy, the rule of law and freedoms, quite on the contrary, it has the goal of strengthening and protecting these values”, he said.
