The urgency of Turkey comes to an end while the bill seeks to retain some of its powers | New



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The state of emergency imposed in Turkey after a coup attempt two years ago ends Thursday as the government seeks to adopt new legislation to maintain some of the powers of the measure.

five days after the failed coup of 20 July 2016 to allow the authorities to "take swift and effective measures against the guilty parties".

The government prorogued it seven times, in the face of criticism from the opposition and Western allies.

More than 250 people, excluding the conspirators, were killed during the attempted coup d'etat that Ankara blames Fethullah Gulen religious leader living in voluntary exile in the United States

Gulen denied any involvement.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had the emergency state put an end to key promise during his campaign before the presidential and parliamentary elections of the month last

After winning the ballot on June 24, Erdogan became the first Turkish executive president with considerably increased powers.

The government recently stated that it would not request an extension of the state of emergency, under of which tens of thousands of people

Mistreated Powers

The United States and many members of the European Union, as well as international rights groups, have repeatedly condemned the detentions and the purges in the country. 19659006] Andrew Gardner, Amnesty International's senior researcher in Turkey, said the state of emergency was being used by the government to counter the legitimate opposition in the country, rather than targeting threats to national security.

"It was quite understandable that serious steps would be taken after the coup attempt to protect the national security of the state," he said. Gardner, adding that the government had abused acquired powers

"Independent institutions have been sanctified, especially the judicial system lacks basic standards of impartiality", he told Al Jazeera [19659004 Gardner added that the government should stop, what it calls, arbitrary detentions and dismissals. as well as the release of people who have been arrested or fired without convincing evidence against them.

For its part, the government says that the purges and detentions are in accordance with the rule of law and are aimed at eliminating Gulen supporters from state organs and others parts of society.

Yilmaz Tunc, vice chairman of the Justice Committee of Parliament, said that the lifting of the state of emergency will not change significantly Daily life in Turkey .

"The state of emergency of two years has not affected the lives of ordinary citizens – and they will not be affected.The process involved terrorist groups and their relatives, "said Tunc, who is also a member of parliament for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). The Listening Post

"However, it could still psychologically create a positive environment, particularly in terms of the economy.Turkey will continue to fight terrorist groups within the confines of the law, without any adverse effect on its ordinary citizens, "he told Al Jazeera. – Democratic Party of Kurdish Peoples (HDP), including Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag in November 2016, who were party leaders at the time.

They are accused of terrorism, just like other imprisoned HDP members, and to have links with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which banned who waged a war against the country. State for autonomy.

The government carried out a massive offensive, mainly between 2015 and 2017, to withdraw the main elements of the PKK from

The new bill

The Party AKP of Erdogan Monday introduced a new bill aimed at maintaining certain measures authorized under the state of emergency for another three years.

The bill is expected to be presented to Parliament next week as a result of discussions at the Justice Commission.

Erdogan promises to advance Turkey under a new system of governance

Inmates may be detained in prison by court order for up to 12 days – on place of up to two days before the coup d'etat.

in state institutions to retain power to make dismissals of officials said to be related to "terrorism".

Governors reserve the right to prevent individuals from going out or entering an area for 15 days for security reasons.

Outdoor demonstrations and rallies will only be held during the day, while indoor events will have to end before midnight.

Erdogan's AKP does not have the absolute majority to pass the law but its far-right ally, the Nationalist Movement Party, should also support the proposed legislation in parliament.

"Necessary Changes"

Tunc told Al Jazeera that the proposed legal changes are necessary for the government to continue its fight against terrorist groups, including the & J J J J,,,,. organization of Gulen.

"There are still remains of FETO members (supporters of Gulen) in the institutions and polls are underway, we needed changes in our legislation to be able to deal with this. And the changes in question are in line with our constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights, "he said.

"Turkey operates in accordance with the rule of law institutions have the right to go to the Turkish courts, including the right to address individually to the Constitutional Court. They can also file a complaint in the European Court of Human Rights. "

But Gardner said that Turkey needed a fundamental change to solve all the problems created by the" U.S. state of emergency, adding that the government was working in the opposite direction.

"The Turkish authorities intend to maintain some of the provisions of the common law state law, including arbitrary dismissals, which indicate that repression within the state institutions will continue "Al Jazeera

" The ban on demonstrations is another aspect that has been abused by the government, even about rallies that clearly have nothing to to see with terrorism, like LGBT events.The new legislation shows that this will probably continue too. "

Follow Umut Uras @Um_Uras

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