Turkey: State of emergency to be extended through Jan. 2018 /update 1

Event

The Turkish National Security Council, chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, proposed a 90-day extension to the ongoing national state of emergency on Monday, October 16. Turkish parliament, controlled by Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) will likely approve the motion in the coming days, bringing the extended national state of emergency into effect on Thursday, October 19, at 01:00 (local time) through mid-January 2018.

Additionally, the National Security Council proposed the closing of Turkish airspace for flights en route to or leaving Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) area, and that the Iraqi federal government take control of the Ibrahim Khalil (Habur) border crossing, which connects Turkey with the KRG.

Context

This will be the fifth time that the state of emergency will have been extended since the failed coup d'état on July 15, 2016, which killed over 250 people. Since then, nearly 150,000 people have been fired or forced to resign from their jobs, and over 50,000 people have been arrested. Critics have repeatedly denounced the increasing restrictions of political freedom and human rights violations under the guise of national security.

Advice

Individuals in Turkey should expect continuing heightened security measures, follow any instructions issued by the local authorities, and carry proper identification at all times (e.g., passport). Avoid all demonstrations or public gatherings.