In another demonstration of unity after the coup, which was staged by a faction within the armed forces, the head of Turkey’s air force issued a rare statement stressing “absolute obedience” to the chief of the military General Staff.
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Istanbul s Taksim square was transformed into a sea of red national flags in what was dubbed a “democracy festival” that brought together the ruling Islamic-conservative and opposition secular camps.
CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu told the crowd that, amid all the turmoil, “the parliament stood proudly, Turkey stood proudly, lawmakers stood proudly, people in this square have stood proudly, and democracy won!” “We are here as the citizens of Turkey, not a supporter of a certain political party”.
Some journalists said officials are intimidating them following the coup. “We need to see proper medical care for people in detention, which isn’t happening either”.
Also detained in the sweep was Halis Hanci, an alleged senior aide to US-based cleric Fethullah Gülen – the reclusive spiritual leader whom Turkey accuses of having orchestrated the plot to overthrow Erdoğan. “Today is a day we made history all together”, Kilicdaroglu told the flag-waving crowd.
The secularists have said their denouncement of the coup does not mean they agree with the government measures enacted afterward. So far the authorities have detained and placed under investigation some 60,000 people.
Turning Gülen into “Public Enemy No. 1” will make it easier for Erdogan to create a “new” Turkey in his own image and spirit, said Ze’evi, completely negating the movement of Turkish Republic founder Kemal Atatürk.
The crowds of USA residents of Turkish origin from Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island, as well as Azeri nationals, Ahıska Turks, and Muslims from around the globe shouted chants and carried banners in Turkish and English that said, “We Stand with Turkey”, “Obama, Extradite Gülen”, and “FETO, Enough with Your Treason against the Nation”, in reference to the terrorist group led by Gulen that mounted the coup attempt through rogue elements within the military.
After a coup attempt last week failed to topple him and his government, Erdogan also decreed that suspects can be detained for up to 30 days without charges – a stark change from the previous maximum of four days.
“We decided that there won’t be a guards unit in this compound anymore”, he said.
It is expected to be ratified by parliament, where his party holds the majority.
Gulen and his supporters have said the government is using the state of emergency “to solidify his power and persecute his critics”.
After the coup, Western countries pledged support for democracy in Turkey, but have also expressed concern over the scale of subsequent purges of state institutions.
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Opposition groups may have united with the government in condemning the coup but among those demonstrating in Istanbul, opinions remain divided about the state of emergency. “Because they are putting all journalists into one bag”, said Ahmet Abakay, president of the Progressive Journalists’ Association, a media group based in the Turkish capital Ankara.
