The state of emergency in Turkey ended after two years, as Erdogan promised

The state of emergency in Turkey was lifted after two years. The Turkish government has decided not to prolong the measures. On the night of Wednesday to Thursday, the state of emergency has come to an end.

The state of emergency was instituted after the coup attempt of July 2016 and was extended every three months. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised in June that he would lift the state of emergency when he was again elected president.

Tens of thousands of people have been arrested or removed in the past two years. According to the United Nations, the free press has also become a victim of the state of emergency and journalists and activists have been arrested. The president and the government have been able to pass new laws and restrict Turkish rights and freedoms without the consent of parliament in the last two years.

According to opponents of Erdogan, the abolition of the state of emergency will not change much. Due to a recent change in the constitution, the president would have gained more power.