Gulen has lived in self-imposed exile in the U.S. since 1999 and promotes the moderate Hizmet Islamic movement that advocates democracy and secular institutions.
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Turkey’s prime minister says he has sent evidence to the United States to support an extradition request for the exiled cleric Ankara says was behind Friday’s failed coup.
More than 9,300 people are in detention in the fallout from the failed coup, Kurtulmus said. Waving Turkish flags, the crowd walked across the bridge linking the European and Asian sides of the city, some defiantly chanting, “Our martyrs are immortal, our nation can not be divided!”
This is unacceptable in a state governed by rule of law, ‘ Yildirim said, referring to images purportedly showing government supporters physically attacking alleged coup backers.
The U.S. said it was “understandable” and “justified” for the Turkish government to detain more than 6,000 soldiers, 1,481 judiciary members and 210 police officers who are linked to the coup attempt.
“In a country where our youths are killed with tanks and bombs, if we stay silent, as political people we will be held responsible in the afterlife”, Erdogan said, pointing out that capital punishment exists in several countries around the world, including the United States and China. “Once you obtain this mandate, you create a way of ruling that paves the way for abuse”, Sezgin Tanrikulu, a lawmaker with the secular Republican People’s Party (CHP) told Reuters.
Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek defended the move, saying he hoped the state of emergency would be short-lived.
“There will be no curfews. There will be no restriction of movement other than for the suspects”, Simsek said.
The travel ban is aimed at people they think have ties to Fethullah Gülen, whose followers Turkey officials say attempted to carry out the failed coup.
Yildirim warned Turks against exacting revenge on backers of the attempted overthrow, after disturbing pictures emerged of rough treatment meted out to suspects.
“It is already clear”, the prime minister responded, adding that “we will provide them with a pile of evidence”.
“The aim of the declaration of the state of emergency is to be able to take fast and effective steps against this threat against democracy, the rule of law and rights and freedoms of our citizens”, he said.
The Turkish people are waiting to see if any emergency measures will be imposed. There, governors imposed curfews, called in military forces to suppress demonstrations and issued search warrants.
Authorities have revoked the licenses of 21,000 teachers working in private education institutions who are being investigated under the same auspices, state news agency Anadolu reported.
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In Greece, a court sentenced eight Turkish military personnel who fled there aboard a helicopter during the coup attempt to two months in prison for entering the country illegally. The eight, who deny involvement, have applied for asylum in Greece, saying they fear for their safety if they are returned.
