Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ has said that the coup was attempted over the order of US-based Fetullah Gülen, the leader of the FETÖ/PYD terrorist organization.
"The coup was foiled by the determination of our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who headed to Istanbul, the President of the Assembly, who mounted the democracy guard all night at the assembly under bombs, and the Turkish nation of different opinions who stood against the tanks and fought against the coupists," said Bozdağ.
The minister thanked the Turkish President, the President of the Assembly, political parties and nation against the coup separately over their roles in protecting democracy.
Bozdağ, who emphasized the significance of the state of emergency, said that the decision is aiming at preventing a second coup after the three-month state of emergency declared in Turkey.
"We are facing a crisis, not like previous ones; more serious than these all. That is why we need to act commonly against the threat," Bozdağ said.
Bozdağ also dismissed the critics by saying that the state of emergency is not against democracy, but for strengthening the democracy. "The recent happenings showed us who is pro-dictatorship or pro-democracy," he added.
Bozdağ said the decision will not negatively affect the economy and investments.
Previously, President Erdoğan made a statement saying that a three-month state of emergency was being declared under Article 120 of the Turkish Constitution.
Under Article 120, in the event of serious indications of widespread acts of violence aimed at the destruction of the free democratic order, a state of emergency may be declared in one or more regions or throughout the country for a period not exceeding six months.
The decision followed the attempted coup, which was organized by followers of US-based Fetullah Gulen, who is accused of a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through infiltrating Turkish state institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary, forming a “parallel state."
At least 246 people, including members of the security forces and civilians, were martyred during the failed putsch, and over 1,500 others were wounded as they protested it.
