Erdogan declares state of emergency as crackdown against coup plotters continues

ANKARA (News Desk) – While a nationwide crackdown is underway following Friday’s failed coup attempt in Turkey, President Recept Tayyip Erdogan has declared a state of emergency for three months in the country.

Under the emergency rules, the Erdogan-led government is expected to take swift and decisive steps against the forces who plotted the coup and the supporters of Fethullah Gullen – a Turkish cleric who is blamed for planning the coup by President Erdogan.

The emergency law will allow the president and the cabinet to bypass the parliament to introduce new laws and to limit or suspend the fundamental rights and freedoms of the citizens.

Announcing the emergency rule, the Turkish president said that it was the most suitable and required measurement to identify and punish all those who committed high treason by attempting a coup against his government.

“The purpose of the declaration of the state of emergency is to quicken the effective action against all the dangers for democracy, the rule of law and rights of our citizens,” Erdogan went on to say.

Referring to the recent criticism of Western countries over  the vast crackdown after the failed coup, he said the West had no rights to criticise him for imposing emergency.

Earlier, prior to emergency law imposition, President Erdogan held a nearly five-hour-long meeting of the Turkish National Security Council.

In a separate statement before going for the meeting, he said the sweep within the high ranks was not over yet while sharing his suspicion that some foreign countries might have also been involved in the attempt to overthrow his government.

On the occasion, he categorically denied the allegation that he was becoming authoritarian after the coup.

“We will remain within a democratic parliamentary system and never step out of it,” he maintained.

About 60,000 soldiers, police, judges, civil servants and teachers have been suspended, detained or are under investigation since the Friday’s military coup attempt. 360 serving generals were also among those detained by Erdogan government.

Meanwhile, more than 20,000 teachers and administrators have also been suspended from the Education Ministry and several academics are barred from travelling abroad.