Turkish leaders are saying life will continue as normal for most people despite a state of emergency. Erdogan said the new powers would allow the government to rid the military of the “virus” of subversion, blaming the coup attempt on a U.S.-based Muslim cleric, Fethullah Gulen.
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The statement added that the state of emergency is a measure permissible under worldwide law “taken by many states when there is an imminent threat to its security and order, as is the case with a major European democracy which has recently extended for another six months the country wide state of emergency”.
“With respect to Mr. Gulen, we have consistently said to our friends in Turkey, our allies in Turkey, that we need evidence”, Kerry told reporters at the Pledging Conference in Support of Iraq in Washington.
Some voiced concern President Recep Tayyip Erdogan – who said he was nearly killed or captured by the mutineers – was using the opportunity to consolidate his power and further a process of stifling dissent which has already caused tensions with Europe. A government official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the announcement has yet to be made public, also said military reforms could be proposed.
For now, at least, that seems not to worry President Erdogan, who is seizing the opportunity to tighten his grip, reports the BBC’s Turkey correspondent, Mark Lowen.
In one dramatic example of that bravery, a man was filmed being run over by two separate tanks as he tried to stop them. But he said the application of the state of emergency would be “strictly” in the area of national security and would not affect financial or commercial activities.
The military has often had strained relations with Erdogan’s Islamo-conservative government as the traditional guardians of Turkey’s secular system and has carried out coups in the past. In a crackdown on Gulen’s suspected followers, more than 60,000 soldiers, police, judges, civil servants and educators have been suspended, detained or placed under investigation.
“We have sent four dossiers to the United States for the extradition of the terrorist chief”, Turkish Prime Minister Birnili Yildirim said during the ruling Justice and Development Party meeting at the parliament in Ankara, Anadolu Agency reported.
The purges against suspected Gulen supporters follow earlier aggressive moves by Erdogan’s administration against Gulen loyalists in the government, police and judiciary following corruption probes targeting Erdogan associates and family members in late 2013 – prosecutions the government says were orchestrated by Gulen.
The sports ministry has dismissed 245 employees, state media said.
Dion said the requests from the Turkish government came before and after last week’s coup attempt to overthrow the Erdogan government.
Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said 7,543 people had so far been detained, including 6,038 soldiers.
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Turkey has demanded their return to stand trial for alleged participation in the coup attempt.
