Turkey enters first day of state of emergency

Turkey has entered the first full day of a state of emergency.

President Tayyip Erdogan declared a state of emergency on Wednesday as he widened a crackdown in the aftermath of last week’s failed military coup.

Erdogan said the state of emergency, which would last three months, would allow his government to take swift and effective measures against supporters of the coup.

“The purpose of the declaration of the state of emergency is in fact to be able to take the most efficient steps in order to remove this threat as soon as possible, which is a threat to democracy, to the rule of law, and to the rights and freedoms of the citizens of our country.This practice is absolutely not against democracy, the rule of law and freedoms, quite on the contrary, it has the purpose of strengthening and protecting these values”, he said.

The state of emergency would allow the president and cabinet to bypass parliament in passing new laws and to limit or suspend rights and freedoms as they deem necessary.

About 60,000 soldiers, police, judges, civil servants and teachers have been suspended, detained or are under investigation since the military coup attempt.