The military coup d’etat that took place the night of July 15 in Turkey capital, Ankara, and one of its main cities, Istanbul, has had drastic effects. A state of emergency was initiated by Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and was approved on Thursday by the Turkish Parliament.
In light of this, President Erdoğan has a few new powers: bypassing parliament in terms of drafting new laws, and the ability to restrict and suspend rights.
"They will pay a heavy price for this," he said in reference to those involved in the coup.
The death toll rose to 294 and 1,500 wounded due to the coup, and 50,000 have been either suspended or fired as Turkey attempts to find everyone responsible for the failed coup. Judges, teachers, journalists and soldiers make up the 50,000, according to the Cable News Network (CNN), and the 6,000 that have been arrested, according to the Telegraph.
Six hundred plus schools have been closed and thousands of state workers fired due to suspected involvement in the coup according to the British Broadcasting Station (BBC).
A portion of the military moved in late at night issuing a declaration, "political administration that has lost all legitimacy has been forced to withdraw."
Broadcasters such as The Turkish Radio and Television Corporation, Turkey’s national public broadcaster, and CNN Turk were reported as being taken over by the military and forced to cut their broadcasting. This was the coup’s attempt to own the airwaves.
A video seeing the last moments of CNN Turk’s broadcasting can be seen at ‘Watch CNN Turk's final moments on air before soldiers shut it down’.
Then, President Erdoğan addressed the nation via CNN Turk Facetime saying he is still in control, this was planned by lower level officers rebelling against their higher ups and, “Go to the streets and give them their answer. [...] Those who are responsible, we will give them the necessary punishment.”
Thousands went outside to revolt against the coup, and those in Istanbul gathered at Bosphorus Bridge in protest.
Those killed resisting the coup have been praised by the president, and he has declared July 15 ‘Martyr Remembrance Day’ for those killed resisting the military forces.
In addition to those arrested, suspended and fired, Erdoğan blames his previous ally, Fethullah Gülen for leading the coup.
Gülen is a religious leader and scholar who is the center focus of the Gulen Movement. “The Gülen movement (Hizmet in Turkish) is a worldwide civic initiative rooted in the spiritual and humanistic tradition of Islam and inspired by the ideas and activism of Mr. Fethullah Gülen,” says its website.
He has lived in a self-imposed exile since 1999, residing in Pennsylvania. Though there seems to be conflict in why he resides there.
Gülen’s website says he “went to the United States for medical treatment of an ailment,” however the New York Times reported on Dec. 19 2013 that Gülen fled from Turkey “after being accused by the then-secular government of plotting to establish an Islamic state. He has since been exonerated of that charge and is free to return to Turkey, but never has.”
Gülen was also a trusted ally of President Erdoğan until 2013.
In the year when allies turned to adversaries, a corruption scandal rocked Erdoğan’s presidency that was reported within his inner ring. Gülen was accused of sparking corruption in top Turkish officials, and throughout the years leading up to the accusation, the two have disagreed on political issues such as Turkey’s involvement in the Middle East.
Erdoğan is calling for the U.S. to extradite Gülen back to Turkey saying it “should not keep such a terrorist.” According to USA Today, Secretary of State John Kerry said that Erdoğan must have evidence of Gülen’s involvement for a request to be considered.
And for the rest of the coup rebels, according to BBC, Erdoğan has hinted at reinstating the death penalty, “if the people demand it.” Capital punishment was abolished in 2004 so Turkey could become a part of the European Union (EU).
Madeline Gavatorta, News
