State of emergency should be ended: Turkey’s former president

ANKARA

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The states of emergency in Turkey and France should be lifted, former Turkish President Abdullah Gül has said, adding that Turkey’s future promises “strong democracy with reforms and universal standards.” 

“I’ve departed from a country which is in a state of emergency, to another one in the same state,” Gül told journalists in France on Sept. 21, in which a state of emergency was imposed after deadly attacks by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

“An end to states of emergency is desired. Efforts should be made in that direction,” he said. 

A three-month state of emergency was declared in Turkey after the failed July 15 coup attempt, believed to have been masterminded by the Gülenist movement.

Turkey was “very polarized, divided and tense” before the failed seizure of government, Gül said, adding that the government and the opposition subsequently “presented a solid stance on the side of democracy” – a fact that should be noticed.

“When Turkey’s fortune, its dynamic population and high democratic standards come together, Turkey’s potential energy transforms into kinetic energy,” he said. 

During his speech, the former president said he never thought a coup attempt would be conduct because he knew the chain of command.

“We could’ve never guessed that a group of crazy, stupid, treacherous putschists, who infiltrated into significant positions, would engage in such foolishness by hiding themselves. The firm stance of the Turkish people, commanders, the president and the government prevented the coup,” he said.

 Gül also voiced his disappointment with European countries, saying they should have stood against the coup in a strong way.  

“If they’ve done that, they would have helped Turkey more. It’s a sad thing,” he said.  

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım also commented on the duration of the state of emergency, saying it could be extended “if necessary.”

“The state of emergency has been ongoing, it could be extended if the context requires so,” Yıldırım told journalists late on Sept. 21.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan previously made similar comments regarding the issue, noting that it could be extended if approved by the Turkish parliament.

“It can be extended for three months or one month or even more ... Gülen’s people have infiltrated everywhere ... we will continue to identify and arrest the plotters ... extending the state of emergency will help this process,” he said.