Turkey's parliament approves bill extending emergency powers for another year

Turkey's parliament has approved a bill that extends the duration of the current state of emergency powers for one year. Although the state of emergency ended in 2018, the government kept many emergency practices, including those regarding detentions.

Sunday July 18 2021 01:57 pm

Duvar English

Turkey's parliament has approved a bill that extends the duration of the current state of emergency powers for another year amid widescale objection from the opposition.

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) initially sought to extend the emergency regulations for three years, but backtracked after the opposition slammed the government for attempting to hold elections under emergency conditions in 2023.

The omnibus bill approved by parliament includes continued powers to dismiss public employees on terror charges, as well as holding suspects nabbed as part of "anti-terror measures" under detention for up to 12 days.

The bill was backed by the AKP and its far-right ally Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).

Turkey declared a state of emergency that lasted for a whopping two years following the July 15, 2016 failed coup attempt that's widely believed to have been orchestrated by U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen's network.

The emergency rule saw grave human rights abuses and the dismissals of thousands of public servants on alleged terrorism links. Critics say the period turned into a tool for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's AKP to eliminate its critics under the guise of "fighting terrorism."

In a similar manner, AKP Group Deputy Chair Bülent Turan responded to the latest criticism on the omnibus bill by saying that it's necessary to fight against terrorist organizations.

"We don't want an emergency rule, but there are facts. Turkey faces FETÖ," Turan said on July 16, using the abbreviation of the Gülen network's official name of the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization.