Turkey plans rally to condemn coup attempt Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Recep Tayyip Erdogan

ANKARA. — Turkey readied yesterday for its first cross-party rally to condemn the bloody coup attempt against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as his government pressed on with a purge of suspected state enemies. The mass pro-democracy event, to be held under tight security on Istanbul’s iconic Taksim square from 1500 GMT, was called for by the biggest opposition group, the secular and centre-left Republican People’s Party.

But to signal patriotic unity, it will be joined by Erdogan’s Islamic-conservative AKP, whose followers have turned city squares red with seas of Turkish flags every night since the failed putsch.

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim tweeted that “this country’s Turks, Kurds, Alevis” and supporters of the major opposition parties “united together and gave the lesson needed to the putschists”.

An AKP official earlier said the party would work to prevent any trouble with opposition supporters, stressing that: “We’re trying to turn these rallies into an opportunity for national unity and a jointly celebrated democracy festival.”

Security will be tight following a series of attacks this year claimed by Islamic State group jihadists and Kurdish militants. With crowds expected to be boosted by free public transport in the city of 15 million, the event will seek to soothe divisions after the shock of the July 15 coup and a subsequent government crackdown.

“The Turkish republic is stronger than it was in the past,” wrote Yildirim in an editorial in the HaberTurk daily. “Turkey is on democracy watch . . . This watch continues until the anti-democratic elements are cleaned out.”

The number of alleged conspirators who have been rounded up has surged above 13 000 with soldiers, police, justice officials and civilians all targeted in a purge that has alarmed NATO allies and European leaders. Turkey has undergone a seismic shift since the night of violence when renegade soldiers sought to topple Erdogan but were stopped by crowds of civilians and loyalist security forces in clashes that claimed 270 lives.

In the latest reaction, Yildirim said Turkey would disband Erdogan’s 2 500-strong Presidential Guard, saying there was “no need” for the elite regiment. Almost 300 of its officers had already been detained after some guards forced TV news presenters to read statements declaring martial law during the abortive coup attempt.

Under new police powers decreed as part of a three-month state of emergency, those detained can be held without charge for 30 days. Also targeted in the sweep was an alleged senior aide to US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen — the reclusive spiritual leader whom Turkey accuses of having orchestrated the plot to overthrow Erdogan. — AFP.

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