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Turkey Considers New Measures to Solidify Erdogan’s Authority Erdogan Declares 3-Month State of Emergency in Turkey
(about 1 hour later)
ISTANBUL — Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, held an extraordinary national security meeting on Wednesday, and was expected to announce measures aimed at solidifying his authority after an attempt last week to topple his government. ANKARA — Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, declared a three-month state of emergency on Wednesday that he said would enable his government to cleanse the military of individuals who tried to topple his government.
Turkish officials declined to comment on the specific issues that were discussed at the national security meeting in the capital, Ankara, or what additional measures are being considered. The state of emergency would further expand Mr. Erdogan’s powers after the firing and suspension of thousands of soldiers and civil servants in recent days on suspicion of complicity in an attempted coup last week.
Turkish authorities have moved rapidly to purge state institutions of suspected followers of Fethullah Gulen, a Muslim cleric and rival of Mr. Erdogan who has been accused of orchestrating Friday’s coup plot. In a televised address, Mr. Erdogan said Wednesday that the extra powers were needed to protect Turkey’s democracy, and he criticized Western nations who have accused his government of overreaching in its efforts to root out suspected opponents.
“The aim is to rapidly and effectively take all steps needed to eliminate the threat against democracy, the rule of law and the people’s rights and freedoms,” Mr. Erdogan said.
“This measure is in no way against democracy, the law and freedoms,” he added. “On the contrary it aims to protect and strengthen them.”
Some European leaders and human rights groups have criticized the scope of the government’s purge of state institutions, and calls by many Turks to reinstitute the death penalty to punish those involved in plotting the coup.
Earlier on Wednesday, Mr. Erdogan said in a television interview that he suspected foreign countries might have been involved in the failed coup, though he declined to say what governments may have wanted him out of power.
Speaking through an interpreter in an interview with Al Jazeera, Mr. Erdogan also said that there may still be plots against his government, according to The Associated Press.
“I don’t think we have come to the end of it yet,” Mr. Erdogan said, according to The A.P., as his government announced new measures aimed at solidifying his authority.
The Turkish authorities have moved rapidly to remove from the state bureaucracy suspected followers of Fethullah Gulen, a Muslim cleric and rival of Mr. Erdogan who has been accused of orchestrating Friday’s coup plot.
On Wednesday, two members of Turkey’s constitutional court were arrested, and the defense ministry fired more than 200 military court judges and prosecutors. Turkey’s state-run news agency also reported that the education ministry was closing 626 private schools under investigation for “crimes against the constitutional order and the running of that order.”On Wednesday, two members of Turkey’s constitutional court were arrested, and the defense ministry fired more than 200 military court judges and prosecutors. Turkey’s state-run news agency also reported that the education ministry was closing 626 private schools under investigation for “crimes against the constitutional order and the running of that order.”
The members of the constitutional court were among a group of more than 100 officials from the judiciary who were arrested on Wednesday. Nearly 60,000 soldiers, police officers, judges and civil servants have been suspended and detained across the country since last weekend, and about 1,000 members of the military have been accused of connections to the attempted coup.The members of the constitutional court were among a group of more than 100 officials from the judiciary who were arrested on Wednesday. Nearly 60,000 soldiers, police officers, judges and civil servants have been suspended and detained across the country since last weekend, and about 1,000 members of the military have been accused of connections to the attempted coup.
The purges included the country’s education ministry on Tuesday, when more than 15,000 of its employees were suspended. On Wednesday, academics were banned from traveling abroad for work in an effort to prevent scholars and university teachers accused of participation in the coup plot from fleeing the country, Turkish officials said. Mr. Erdogan had held an extraordinary national security meeting earlier on Wednesday to discuss what other measures should be taken to rid the Turkish bureaucracy and security forces of individuals opposed to his government.
In his interview with Al Jazeera, Mr. Erdogan dismissed suggestions that he was becoming authoritarian, and that Turkish democracy was under any threat.
“We will remain within a democratic parliamentary system, we will never step away from it,” he said, according to Reuters.
The purges of Turkish institutions included the country’s Education Ministry on Tuesday, when more than 15,000 of its employees were suspended. On Wednesday, academics were barred from traveling abroad for work in an effort to prevent scholars and university teachers accused of participation in the coup plot from fleeing the country, Turkish officials said.
Mr. Gulen, a onetime ally of Mr. Erdogan who lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania, is believed to have inspired a vast network of educational institutions in Turkey and the United States, and is known to have many sympathizers in the police and judiciary in Turkey.Mr. Gulen, a onetime ally of Mr. Erdogan who lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania, is believed to have inspired a vast network of educational institutions in Turkey and the United States, and is known to have many sympathizers in the police and judiciary in Turkey.
Also on Wednesday, the country’s internet watchdog blocked access to the WikiLeaks website after it published thousands of emails linked to the accounts of the governing Justice and Development Party.Also on Wednesday, the country’s internet watchdog blocked access to the WikiLeaks website after it published thousands of emails linked to the accounts of the governing Justice and Development Party.
A government official said the decision was made because the publishing of the emails was a violation of privacy and the data was illegally obtained.A government official said the decision was made because the publishing of the emails was a violation of privacy and the data was illegally obtained.