'No restrictions on freedoms amid state of emergency'

There will be no rolling back on democracy and limiting basic rights and freedoms in the state of emergency, Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said on Friday.

'No restrictions on freedoms amid state of emergency'

Speaking to a group of media associations in the capital Ankara, Kurtulmus said the "state of emergency is not for the nation but for the state." 

"It is a decision taken against FETO which is embedded in the country’s institutions," he said. "It is just to make our work faster and more effective."

Kurtulmus denied claims that human rights have been suspended by the state of emergency and said it may last less than three months.

"It is the nation who will win this fight against all terrorist organizations [such as] FETO, PKK and Daesh," he said. 

Turkey’s declaration of a three-month state of emergency following a deadly coup attempt on July 15 has raised questions over what is to come in the possible three months ahead.

"The purpose of the state of emergency is to most effectively and swiftly take steps necessary to eliminate the threat to democracy in our country, the rule of law, and the rights and freedom of our citizens," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also said previously.

According to the Turkish Constitution, the state of emergency can be declared for a maximum period of six months when serious indications of widespread violence, aimed at removing the free democracy environment or the basic rights and freedoms established by the Constitution, appear; or when the public order is distorted severely due to acts of violence.

The July 15 coup attempt martyred at least 246 and wounded more than 2,100 people, who took to the streets to protest the attempt. 

Turkey accuses U.S.-based preacher Fetullah Gulen and his so-called parallel state of being behind the failed coup and has called for his extradition to Turkey to face trial.

Anadolu Agency

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