He was interrupted by chants from the crowd. Ms Merkel’s spokesman, Mr Steffen Seibert told reporters that “the institution of the death penalty can only mean that such a country could not be a member”.
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And President Erdogan heard them loud and clear. More people seek the freedoms of democracy and have more tools to push for it. “Those who attempt a coup must pay a price”.
It had already been trending on Twitter for a day.
“If some people keep saying that press is not still free in Turkey, then I want to say this”. I talked with a fruit seller as he listened to unconfirmed news of a supposed vigilante beheading one soldier; according to the fruit seller, the soldier had gotten what he deserved for participating in the coup attempt.
Others objected: “The death penalty is a crime against humanity”. She noted that countries with the death penalty can not join the European Union, as Turkey has sought to do, added the Washington Post. There has been no execution here since 1984.
“The EU recalls that the unequivocal rejection of the death penalty is an essential element of the union acquis”, ministers said, referring to the body of EU law that underpins the bloc.
In a bid to calm markets roiled by the coup attempt, Turkey’s central bank cut a key interest rate to shore up liquidity in the economy.
However, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim suggested to reporters in Ankara that the United States request was not reasonable. “We risk our lives for the people”.
While he recognized the need to apprehend the coup plotters, Kerry said: “We caution against a reach that goes beyond that”.
“Today, is there no capital punishment in America?”
The recent history of U.S. -Turkey relations offers a lesson in how a friendship can unravel. It doesn’t seem likely that Turkey will bow against any demand coming from the EU.
“But still, I don’t think Turkey will reinstate the death penalty”, he adds.
It is also a founding member of the Council of Europe – none of whose 47 members have the death penalty.
The base was under a security lockdown on Saturday after the failed coup, disrupting anti-ISIS operations. So there is no valid excuse for Turkey to withdraw from its worldwide obligations.
Amnesty International also urged the Turkish government to respect human rights, amid reports “that detainees in Ankara and Istanbul have been subjected to a series of abuses”, the rights group said.
And even if it is reinstated, he argues that the coup plotters would be legally exempt.
Although they are North Atlantic Treaty Organisation allies and officially partners in the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the United States and Turkey have seen their relations take an icy turn in recent months.
On this matter, Erdogan said, “This issue now can be taken to the agenda of the parliament and it can be discussed there”.
European Union commissioner Johannes Hahn, who is leading negotiations with Turkey on its accession bid, suggested that Mr Erdogan was exploiting the crisis to eliminate opponents who may or may not have been involved in the coup.
Meanwhile, Gulen rejected the notion that he or his supporters staged the coup late Friday night, insinuating that Erdogan, himself, staged the coup in the country, in order to solidify his power in Turkey.
Fear is also what is motivating Erdogan to throw blame, says Momani.
And there is another problem for the government.
The attempted takeover is alleged to have been organised by followers of Fetullah Gulen – a US-based cleric in self-exile – who is accused of a long-standing campaign to overthrow the government through supporters within the Turkish state, particularly the military, police and judiciary. Turkey is seeking their return, and all eight have requested asylum in Greece.
Dozens of generals accused of plotting the coup were arrested by the court.
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Prime Minister Binali Yildirim says over 7,500 suspects have been arrested over the coup attempt, explaining that more than 750 judges and prosecutors are among the detainees.
