Turkey extends state of emergency

ANKARA - Anadolu Agency

Turkey’s state of emergency will be extended for another three months, the government said on Jan. 3.

Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmuş made the announcement following a cabinet meeting.  
    
Kurtulmuş told reporters that ministers decided the state of emergency would be extended as of Jan. 19 for 90 days, with the parliament’s approval.        

He attributed the reason for the extension to the presence in public institutions of the Fethullahist Terror Organization (FETÖ), widely believed to have orchestrated the July 15 coup attempt.        

“The clearance of FETÖ elements from the state has not yet been completed. We need the application of the state of emergency until the end of the clearing of FETÖ and all terror groups in the state,” he said.      
  
Turkey declared a state of emergency on July 20 after the coup attempt killed more than 240 people and injured nearly 2,200 others.  

According to the constitution, a state of emergency can be declared for a maximum of six months, but can also be extended if necessary.        

Parliament must ratify the measure, and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has a comfortable majority for passage.        

To enact the state of emergency, the government must see serious indications of widespread violence that could interfere with Turkey’s democratic environment or its citizens’ basic rights and freedoms as established by the constitution.