Monday, July 18, 2016

Turkey urged to protect rule of law. Death penalty would be 'unacceptable'

Turkey must protect the rule of law following the failed coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini has said.

"It needs to be protected for the sake of the country," Ms Mogherini said as EU foreign ministers met in Brussels.

Security forces in Turkey this morning carried out new raids against suspected plotters of the botched coup, as international concern grew over the scale of the crackdown.

Turkey removed 8,000 police across the country due to alleged links with the coup attempt, a senior security official said this morning.


  • It has detained a total of 103 generals and admirals in the wake of the failed coup.

The top military figures have been detained in sweeps across the country in what appears to be a major purge of the armed forces.

They are now being taken to courts to decide on remanding them in custody.

Mr Erdogan has urged citizens to remain on the streets even after the defeat of the coup, in what the authorities describe as a "vigil" for democracy.

New demonstrations of support were held throughout the country last night...

Thousands of pro-Erdogan supporters waving Turkish flags filled the main Kizilay Square in Ankara while similar scenes were seen in Taksim Square in Istanbul.

  • According to Anadolu, 1,800 additional elite special police forces have been drafted in from surrounding provinces to ensure security in Istanbul.

Leaders including US President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have urged Turkey to follow the rule of law in the wake of the coup.

  • Death penalty would be 'unacceptable'

Meanwhile, Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz said it would be unacceptable for Turkey to reintroduce the death penalty in response to the failed coup.

Mr Erdogan said there could be no delay in using capital punishment and the government would discuss the measure with opposition parties.

"The introduction of the death penalty would of course be absolutely unacceptable," Mr Kurz said in an interview with Austrian newspaper Kurier.

Turkey has ambitions to join the European Union, but a revival of the death penalty would freeze any discussion of membership.

President Erdogan had said: "In democracies, decisions are made based on what the people say...
 [rte.ie]
18/7/16
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