Turkey to extend state of emergency

Turkey’s state of emergency will be extended, Justice and Development (AK) Party Group Leader Mustafa Elitaş said on Friday.

He added that the matter would be discussed at the Turkish parliament soon and that the National Security Council would discuss it on Monday.

Turkey declared a state of emergency on July 20, 2016, after the Fetullah Terrorist Organization’s (FETÖ) failed coup attempt of July 15, 2016. At least 250 people were killed and nearly 2,200 others were injured in the coup attempt.

Parliament ratified the Prime Ministry’s motion to extend the ongoing state of emergency in the country for another three months in July. The current state of emergency expires on Oct. 19.

During the state of emergency, the Cabinet has the right to issue statutory decrees under the president of the republic without regard to routine procedures and restrictions in Article 91 of the country’s constitution.

These decrees are first published in the official gazette and then submitted to parliament for ratification.