Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) opens the way for civil war and the proliferation of militias by passing a statutory decree that will ensure civilians who are involved in suppressing alleged terrorist activity are not responsible for their actions before the law

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) moved Turkey closer to the brink of greater civil strife after it implemented statutory decree 696 on 24 December, providing all those engaged in suppressing “the 15 July (2016) attempted coup, terrorist actions or other actions that are continuations of these” with absolution before the law.

According to Article 121 of state of emergency decree 696, “Individuals, regardless of whether or not they possess an official title or whether or not they are discharging official duties, who are engaged in suppressing the attempted 15 July 2016 coup, terrorist actions or other actions that are continuations of these will be subject to the first paragraph (of Article 37 which was published in November 2016).”

According to Paragraph 1 of Article 37 of the law regarding necessary measures under the state of emergency and other changes to the status of institutions, “with regard to the suppression of the attempted 15 July 2016 coup, terrorist actions or other actions that are continuations of these, this decision absolves all those who make decisions or enact measures, as well as those who conduct duties with regard to all types of judicial and administrative measures and who make decisions and discharge duties within the framework of decisions with the force of law (KHK) that are published as part of the state of emergency, from legal, administrative, financial and penal responsibility.”

Sendika.Org