29 September 2016•Update: 29 September 2016
ANKARA
Turkey's top security body advised Wednesday extending the country's ongoing state of emergency, according to initial reports from a meeting in the Turkish capital.
The National Security Council, which convened Wednesday in Ankara under the chairmanship of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, made a number of statements on the July 15 coup attempt, Turkey's Syria policy and counter-terrorism.
During the almost six-hour meeting, the council offered to extend the state of emergency beyond its initial three-month period.
"It has been agreed to recommend to extend the state of emergency in order to ensure the continuity of the effective implementation of the measures aiming to protect our democracy, the rule of law and the rights and freedoms of our citizens," read the statement issued after meeting.
After the deadly coup attempt, which martyred more than 240 people and injured nearly 2,200 others, Turkey declared a state of emergency on July 20.
According to the Turkish Constitution, a state of emergency can be declared for a maximum period of six months.
To enact the state of emergency, the government must see serious indications of widespread violence that could interfere with Turkey's democratic environment or its citizens' basic rights and freedoms as established by the Constitution.
The National Security Council also insisted on a "terror-free zone" and a "no-fly zone" in northern Syria as well as giving July 15 a special designation.
"It is recommended to declare July 15, the coup attempt by Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), as a “Day of Democracy and Freedom” in Turkey," the statement said.
The statement underlined the decisive fight against terrorism.
"It is strongly highlighted that the administrative and the legal actions taken on the municipalities which use the state and nation's own resources to support terrorist organizations instead of [carrying out] their [municipalities'] primary duties are to the point and the studies concerning this issue will be sustained."
The statement also criticized the European Parliament and accused the European Union of being insensitive to terrorism.
"Allowing the terrorist organization's symbols on the corridors of European Parliament and the insensitive attitude of some fellow and allied EU countries for the exhibitions and meetings of terrorist organizations like PKK/PYD and YPG have been considered as worrisome and it has been also considered that terrorism have become an instrument of international politics and even been encouraged. An international definition of terrorism must be made and the importance of cooperation must be underlined to prevent diverse applications."
