Erdogan makes a legitimate claim, however it will likely be abused, allowing Erdogan to consolidate power.
Just the latest in a string of incidents in Turkey following the coup attempt, Erdogan has declared a State of Emergency.
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The State of Emergency will last for three months
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The State of Emergency will allow Erdogan to pass laws without parliamentary approval.
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These laws can suspend and restrict freedoms and the rights of people.
“The purpose of the declaration of the state of emergency is, in fact, to be able to take the most efficient steps in order to remove this threat as soon as possible, which is a threat to democracy, to the rule of law and to the rights and freedoms of the citizens in our country,” Erdogan said. Given how violent the coup in Turkey was over the weekend, a State of Emergency is not unwarranted.
He compared the coup to a “virus” that infected the Armed Forces, and Erdogan vowed “all the viruses within the armed forces will be cleansed”.
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The State of Emergency was declared in order to more efficiently and quickly stamp out any opposition.
Whether Erdogan relinquishes power after three months will be true moment where we find out whether Erdogan is actually a dictator or just a crazy person lusting for some power.
What else has Erdogan done?
In the crackdown to find coup-plotters including many generals, Erdogan has gone on a rampage, accusing over 50,000 people of being involved, including almost 17,000 teachers
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He had 14,500 teachers fired
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He had 1,577 University deans resign
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Revoked the licenses of 21,000 private school teachers
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The latest crackdown in Erdogan’s hunt for Fethullah Gulen
Why would Erdogan fire so many teachers? In one day he has removed almost 17,000 educators, in his attempt to destroy any last remnants of the coup. The answer to why he removed educators comes to a simple answer: Gulen.
Fethullah Gulen is the man being blamed for the entire coup attempt, and is the enemy of Erdogan.
Gulen is the head of a wealthy sect of Islam, and they operate many private schools, and this is why 21,000 private school teachers had licenses revoked.
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Turkish prime Minister Binali Yildirim said that Gulen leads a “terrorist organisation”, and that “We will dig them up by their roots.”
In one swoop, Erdogan has destroyed education in Turkey.
Erdogan is on a witch hunt, and will not stop until he tears everything apart in search of the coup plotters.
He has targeted the education sector as he believes that Gulen supporters had infiltrated and gained a significant hold there. Authorities also shut down media outlets that have shown support for Gulen in the past.
He has already formally requested the extradition of Fethullah Gulen. The United States has received the request and is looking over the materials. However, in regards to this witch hunt, US State Department spokesperson Mark Toner said “The types of arrests and roundups that you cite have not gone unnoticed by us.”
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This extradition request will face huge legal and political hurdles, as the US does not extradite people for “political offences”, however they will extradite people who act to undermine a head of state. So it will all come down to the evidence.
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