Turkey extends state of emergency by another 3 months

Turkey ordered Monday the prolonging of the state of emergency imposed after the failed coup in July 15, according to Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus. The Turkish constitution authorizes parliament with the right to extend the duration of a state of emergency by a maximum period of four months.

“One of the decisions taken by the cabinet is an extension of the 90-day state of emergency and its renewal from 1 a.m. on Oct. 19,” Kurtulmus told reporters after the weekly cabinet meeting in Ankara.

Addressing neighborhood heads in Ankara on Sept. 29, Erdoğan said Turkey’s fight with terror needed more time as it is so “deep” that it could not be solved in just three months.

The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) also expressed its support for the extension, saying the fight against those behind the July 15 coup attempt was continuing at all levels and that this was “natural and right.” However, main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) head Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu objected to the extension period, voicing concerns over the growing number of complaints of “reckless measures” resulting from decree laws under the state of emergency.

Turkey's main opposition party and human rights groups have, however, accused the government of using emergency powers to clamp down on other dissenting voices — not just the Gulen movement. Last week, authorities closed down at least 12 Kurdish television stations for alleged threats to national security, including a station that broadcast children's cartoons in the Kurdish language.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan administration imposed a state of emergency on July 15, in the context of the attempted military coup that killed over 300 people and injuring another 2,100. About 40,000 people were remanded after the military plot failed.