Turkey extends state of emergency for three more months

ANKARA

The parliament on Oct. 17 extended the ongoing state of emergency in Turkey for three more months.

The General Assembly approved the Prime Ministry’s motion calling for the extension, which would become effective as of Oct. 19, 1 a.m. (22:00 GMT).

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) had voted in favor of the extension, while main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and People’s Democratic Party (HDP) had opposed it.

Addressing the General Assembly on Oct. 17, Deputy Premier Bekir Bozdağ backed the extension and said Turkey would continue to fight against terrorist organizations, including the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) under the state of emergency.

“The state of emergency will end as soon as certain necessary conditions are met,” Bozdağ said.

“The extension in the state of emergency annoys terrorist organizations, including the PKK, FETÖ and the DHKP-C [Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party-Front]. Because the state of emergency is being carried out quickly and distinctly for them, those who support such terrorist organizations are also disturbed by it,” he said.

He urged the parliament to stay united in the fight against FETÖ.

“The fight with FETÖ should be the common fight of the nation and the Turkish parliament,” he added.

The Nationalist Movement Party’s (MHP) parliamentary deputy group chair said the state of emergency was “necessary” for Turkey’s fight against terrorism.

“The owners of the subcontractor FETÖ are still continuing to threaten Turkey’s territorial integrity while supporting terrorist organizations in Syria and Iraq,” Erkan Akçay said.

“July 15 was an attempt to occupy Turkey,” said Akçay, referring to the coup attempt in 2016. The MHP has backed the extension of the state of emergency since it was first proclaimed after the coup bid.

CHP lawmaker Onursal Adıgüzel said the parliament had not surrendered to FETÖ traitors.

“We will continue to stand against every kind of terrorism,” said Adıgüzel.

Regarding why his party did not back the extension of the state of emergency, Adıgüzel said the move was not a solution to Turkey’s issues.

“Turkey does not need a state of emergency but protection for the rights of the 80 million [Turkish] people who live under the roof [of parliament],” he said.

“The salvation of Turkey is dominated by a common mind,” Adıgüzel.

The CHP wants the ongoing state of emergency to end soon.

According to the constitution, a state of emergency can be declared for a maximum period of six months.

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.

Turkey declared a state of emergency for the first time on July 20, 2016 following the attempted takeover.