life imprisonment – News Archy UK

In the trial, which began in August 2017, there are a total of 475 defendants, including 25 generals and high-ranking members of the Islamist brotherhood of preacher Fethullah Gülen, exiled in the United States, and whom Ankara accuses of the coup.

The trial, the largest of all that has been opened against participants in the coup, brings together the military and civilians present the night of the coup at the Akinci air base, near Ankara, from where the fighters that bombed the city took off.

jov (efe, tagesschau24)

Turkey’s path to authoritarianism

July 2007: Abdullah Gul becomes the first Islamist president of Turkey

After years of free market reforms, Turkey’s transition is slowly beginning to reverse. The Islamist Abdullah Gul’s candidacy in 2007 marks a clear departure from secular politics and accentuates relations between the ruling AKP and the military. Thus, with broad support from both conservative and liberal Muslims, the AKP wins the elections.

Turkey’s path to authoritarianism

September 2010: constitutional reforms take hold

Then-Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan introduces a constitutional reform that increases parliamentary control over the judiciary and the military, allowing the government to elect judges and senior military officers. The amendment, which is combined with measures to protect children’s rights and strengthen the right of appeal, was approved in a public referendum.

Turkey’s path to authoritarianism

May 2013: protests erupt in Gezi Park

Suppressed anger against Erdogan, Gul and the AKP erupts in May 2013. Violent police repression turned a small protest to protect Gezi Park in Istanbul into one of the fiercest anti-government demonstrations in years. Eleven people were killed and more than 8,000 injured, before the protests died down a month later.

Turkey’s path to authoritarianism

July 2015: Turkey relaunches crackdown on Kurds

The fragile ceasefire agreement between the Turkish government and the rebel Kurdish group PKK is broken by the tensions of the war in Syria. Military forces resume operations in the mostly Kurdish southeast of Turkey. In early 2016, the Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK) claimed responsibility for two bombings in Ankara, each of which killed 38 people.

Turkey’s path to authoritarianism

July 2016: failed military coup attempt

An attempted military coup against the government shakes Turkey and briefly turns the country into a war zone. Some 260 civilians are killed in nightly clashes with the army. Erdogan rallies supporters and the next morning rebel soldiers are ambushed by thousands of civilians on the Bosphorus bridge. Opposing troops drop their weapons and surrender.

Turkey’s path to authoritarianism

July 2016: President Erdogan promulgates a state of emergency

In the wake of the failed coup, Erdogan announces a state of emergency, leading to the arrest of tens of thousands of coup sympathizers and political opponents. Among those detained are military and judicial officials and elected representatives of the pro-Kurdish HDP party. The purge is later expanded to include civil servants, university officials and professors.

Turkey’s path to authoritarianism

2016: repression of the press

As part of Erdogan’s crackdown on alleged “terrorist sympathizers,” Turkey becomes one of the world’s top jailers of journalists, according to Reporters Without Borders. The government shut down around 110 media outlets in 2017 and jailed more than 100 journalists, including the German-Turkish correspondent Deniz Yücel.

Turkey’s path to authoritarianism

March 2017: AKP officials try to stoke support in Western Europe

During the April 2016 referendum, which sought to expand Erdogan’s power, AKP officials aimed to increase support among Turks living in Europe. However, the Netherlands prohibited the landing of Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, while Germany chose to cancel two concentrations. Erdogan accuses both countries of Nazi-style repression.

Turkey’s path to authoritarianism

April 2017: Erdogan holds the referendum

Erdogan narrowly won the referendum that increased his power. As a result, Turkey’s parliamentary system is abolished and a strong executive presidency begins to rule. Erdogan will also be allowed to stay in power until 2029. However, international election observers claim that opposition voices were silenced.

Turkey’s path to authoritarianism

June 24, 2018: Erdogan is reelected president

Recep Tayyip Erdogan won the presidential elections of 06.24.2018, with which he will not only be the head of the State, but also that of the Government, since with these elections the constitutional reform of 2017 comes into full force, with which it has been abolished the figure of the prime minister. It thus holds practically all the powers in the Republic.