Turkey Extends Its State Of Emergency

Turkey’s government has extended the state of emergency that has been in place since the failed coup in July. The government hopes that this three-month extension will enable them in helping fight terrorism. However, opposition politicians are accusing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of using this three-month extension to continue its crackdown on critics. The state of emergency was first declared six days after the coup attempt in July. It was around this time that officials launched a purge targeting the followers of Fethullah Gulen, who was accused of masterminding the coup. Gulen is a cleric who founded the Gulen movement, a group that has promoted education throughout the country and opened several private schools and universities in Turkey.

The Turkish government has been undertaking a counter-terrorism strategy, which has included the biggest purge in Turkey’s modern history. Since the coup, 100,000 people have been dismissed or suspended from their jobs, 70,000 have been detained, and 32,000 have been arrested. The government has targeted individuals from many different professions, including teachers, public servants, police, and journalists. This campaign has also been extended to universities as the government has shut down 15 universities across the country due to alleged connections to Gulen. While the purge has focused on alleged supporters of Gulen, it has now expanded to include other parts of the population. Officials have used the state of emergency to go after other groups in Turkey, such as alleged supporters of the Kurdistan Worker’s Party. The Kurdistan Worker’s Party is an outlawed group that has been fighting for autonomy in southeast Turkey since 1984.

The government’s response to the coup has produced significant criticism, both domestically and internationally. The opposition party has called out the government for these measures and has accused them of overstepping their power, using the state of emergency to target its critics. Human rights groups have condemned the government for detaining so many people without charges or a trial. Gareth Jenkins, a foreign observer has commented on the fear and tension present within Turkey and stated that “Turkey is now in its deepest political crisis in a generation.” Many observers have commented that it is unlikely that this purge will end soon and expect that the government will continue to tighten its grip on the country.

This continuing purge is problematic, and many individuals have been denied certain rights, particularly those that have been detained. Every individual has the right to a fair legal process, including access to lawyers. However, this is not occurring in Turkey as many lawyers are unwilling to help as they do not want to be targeted as well.

Furthermore, the government has now expanded its measures to other opponent groups within the country. It is clear that the government is not just using the state of emergency to find those who planned the coup but, also to reaffirm its power in Turkey. Instead of reassuring the population, the government has fostered fear and unease, with many civilians fearing that they will be targeted next. It is clear that this purge is unlikely to end soon as the extension of a state of emergency will only enable the government to continue its current crackdown.

The state of emergency extension will go into effect on the 19th of October.

Lillian Wetherspoon

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