Turkey Extends State of Emergency by 3 Months

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus announced that the state of emergency in the country, initially declared after the July 15 defeated coup, will be extended by 3 more months.

Speaking to reporters after a Cabinet meeting in the capital Ankara, Kurtulmus said that the assembled ministers decided that the state of emergency would be extended as of October 19 for 90 more days, with parliaments approval, the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA) reported.

Turkey will determinately fight against all terror organizations, Kurtulmus said. The National Security Council last week had advised extending the state of emergency. 

After the deadly July 15 coup attempt, which killed more than 240 people and injured nearly 2,200 others, Turkey declared a state of emergency on July 20. According to the Turkish Constitution, a state of emergency can be declared for a maximum period of six months, but can also be extended if needed. 

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.

Source : QNA