Life in Turkey ‘back to normal’, embassy claims

The Turkish Embassy in Malta claimed that following last week’s failed coup “life in Turkey, especially in major cities and vacation resorts, has returned to its normal pace.”

In its third statement issued in as many days, the embassy said the state of emergency announced by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday “will not affect fundamental rights and freedoms of our citizens.” 

The three-month state of emergency will see Erdogan preside the council of ministers and allows government to rule by decree, pass bills that have the force of law unless they are overturned by parliament, where the majority of MPs belong to the ruling Justice and Development party (AKP).

Erdogan said the new powers would allow the government to rid the military of the "virus" of subversion, blaming the coup attempt on a US-based Sufi cleric, Fethullah Gulen.

Following the coup attempt, Erdogan’s government has arrested nearly 10,000 people and some 60,000 civil service employees, including teachers, university deans and police, have been dismissed, suspended, forced to resign or had their licenses revoked for allegedly being Gulen followers.

The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), slammed the state of emergency move while the leftist Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) said the way out of the failed coup and chaos in Turkey is not a more authoritarian one-man-rule, but more democracy.

On Thursday, the AKP dominated parliament approved the bill declaring a state of emergency in the wake of last weekend’s coup attempt and informed the Council of Europe of a partial withdrawal from the European convention on human rights.

Turkey will be required to provide regular updates to the secretary general of the Council of Europe on the measures taken under the state of emergency, according to the terms of the treaty.

Turkish officials insisted the lives and freedoms of citizens would not be affected, but concerns have mounted among both opponents and allies that the move will further consolidate Erdogan’s power and erode citizens’ rights.

In reference to manifestations held by Erdogan’s supporters, the embassy pointed out that “public squares in all major cities are packed every night since 15 July with people from all walks of life, in ‘democracy vigil’ manifestations.”

The statement added that touristic resorts are welcoming foreign guests as usual and Turkish Airlines are operating to its usual destinations all over the world, including Malta.