In a final speech, the president said that the movement run by US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen and blamed by Ankara for the July 15 coup attempt would “pay a price for what they have done”.
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However, they failed to do so after forces loyal to the Turkish government defeated them.
He has denied any involvement.
The rally under the theme of “Democracy and Martyrs” was called for by the president, but the pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party that is also represented in parliament was not invited for its link to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, which has been seeking autonomy in southeastern Turkey.
Almost 300 died in events surrounding the July 15 coup attempt, which triggered a massive government crackdown.
Turkey has received criticism for what it did after the coup, where it conducted massive arrest campaigns, detaining thousands of individuals from the military, schools and universities, health services and the media.
Criticising the response of Washington and European leaders to the attempted putsch, Erdogan said the Turkish people had been abandoned by the West.
“Russia can not replace the United States and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and European Union or European partners.in relation to Turkey’s strategic interests”, Hakura said. Over 2,190 others were injured.
It was broadcast across the country at smaller rallies.
“I say in advance: I would ratify such a decision from parliament”, the president said.
The sudden urge to reintroduce the death penalty comes from the failed coup on July 15. “Only in cooperation with Russian Federation can we regulate the crisis in Syria”, Erdogan said, months after he accused Russian Federation of seeking to prop up “a boutique state” led by brutal Moscow-ally Bashar al-Assad in Syria. “Either they will continue to protect three or five bandits, or they will act in a way that will allow them to win the hearts of a nation of 79 million people”. We used to have it until 1984.
“Erdogan has been brutal and unfair to us in the past, but I believe he has now understood the real importance of the republic’s values”, said Ilhan Girit, 44, a musician and CHP supporter, carrying a flag of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of the modern secular republic.
“July 15 showed our friends that this country isn’t just strong against political, economic and diplomatic attacks, but against military sabotage as well”, Erdogan said.
“The European Union does not behave in a honest manner towards Turkey”, Erdogan said to French newspaper Le Monde.
The “Democracy and Martyrs’ Rally” was the climax of three weeks of nightly demonstrations by Mr Erdogan’s supporters around the country.
Erdogan said that coup’s architects – which he lays at the feet of Fetullah Gulen, a one-time ally but now fierce critic of Erdogan who lives in self-imposed exile in the United States – “made a lot of sinister calculations but miss something”.
The crackdown in Turkey has seen tens of thousands of public sector workers suspended or dismissed, with many having their passports cancelled. Gulen is also accused of a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through infiltrations into the country’s the military, police, and judiciary.
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Local branches of the AK Party have been told to begin a purge of suspected Gulenists in their ranks.
