They want the death penalty reintroduced.
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The Turkish government and President Erdogan are using this as a pretext to put pressure on the U.S. in an effort to get Gulan extradited, the founder and director of the Centre for Turkey Studies and Development in London, Ibrahim Dogus, told RT. “We can’t say ‘no, that doesn’t interest us, ‘” he stressed, while adding that he cannot reinstate the punishment by himself.
Amnesty’s Turkey researcher, Andrew Gardner, told The Associated Press the reported ill-treatment also included verbal abuse, threats, leaving people without food or water for days, and handcuffing them behind their backs for long periods.
Five people have been detained so far although 11 of the suspects are believed to be already outside the country, the Dogan news agency said.
Yildirim, who also attended the meeting, said afterwards that all the parties were now prepared to work together on a new constitution, one of the most contentious issues in Turkish politics in recent times.
Yildirim also said the gendarmes and coast guard, which were under the command of the Turkish armed forces, would now report to the civilian interior ministry.
Nearly two thirds of Turks believe US -based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen was behind a failed coup attempt in Turkey on July 15, a survey conducted by pollster Andy-Ar showed on Tuesday, backing the government line.
Russia “isn’t just our close and friendly neighbor, but also a strategic partner”, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek, who announced the August 9 visit, said at talks in Moscow with his Russian counterpart Arkady Dvorkovich on Tuesday.
Erdogan has accused Gulen, his former ally, of attempting to build a “parallel network” of supporters within the military, police, judiciary, civil service, education and media with the aim of toppling the state.
Kilicdaroglu and Devlet Bahceli, head of the ultra-right MHP party, visited the presidential palace Monday so Erdogan could thank them for their support in denouncing the coup and consult them on the way forward.
Gulen’s movement known as Hizmet, once claimed as many as 2,000 officers within the Turkish military prior to crackdowns by Turkish President Erdogan.
The retired United States general had allegedly paid “at least two secret visits” to Turkey since May up to the attempted coup, which the Turkish authorities blamed on what they call the Fethullah Terrorist Organization (FETO).
Washington says it is considering documents Turkey sent about Gulen’s alleged involvement in the failed coup, but has made no commitment to return him. Amnesty International said it has “credible evidence” that coup plot detainees are being tortured, beaten, raped and denied food and water in official and unofficial detention centres across Turkey.
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Approximately 250 people were killed by pro-coup soldiers who blocked bridges and airports, attempted a media blackout and went as far as bombing Parliament and other key buildings, as well as people and law enforcement officials.
