Azernews.Az

By Gunay Hasanova

The state of emergency in Turkey has been extended for another 90 days, Anadolu Agency reported on October 4.

Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus announced that Turkey's state of emergency initially declared after the July 15 defeated coup, will be extended for 3 more months.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, which was held at the Presidential Palace under the chairmanship of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Speaking to reporters after the Cabinet meeting in the capital Ankara, Kurtulmus said that the ministers decided that the state of emergency would be extended as of October 19 for 90 more days, with parliament’s approval.

“Turkey will determinately fight against all terror organizations,” Kurtulmus said.

The National Security Council had advised extending the state of emergency last week.

The Turkish Constitution indicates that a state of emergency can be declared for a maximum period of six months, but can also be extended if necessity occurs.

The Parliament must ratify states of emergency, and the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party has a comfortable majority for doing so.

To enact the state of emergency, the government must see serious indications of widespread violence which could interfere with Turkey's democratic environment or its citizens' basic rights and freedoms as established by the Constitution.

On July 15 evening, Turkish authorities said a military coup attempt took place in the country. Meanwhile, a group of servicemen announced about the transition of power to them. However, the rebelling servicemen started to surrender July 16 and Turkish authorities said the coup attempt failed.

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had said the death toll as a result of the military coup attempt stood at 246 people, excluding the coup plotters, and over 2,000 people were wounded.

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