Turkey suspends Human Rights Act after declaring state of emergency that allows President Erdogan to make up his own new laws
Announcement made in televised speech after president meets security council to 'eliminate threat to democracy'
TURKISH president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has suspended the European Convention on Human Rights - just hours after declaring a three-month state of emergency.
Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus announced the move as Turkey's leaders continue a crackdown on alleged plotters behind last Friday's violent coup attempt.
The decision to suspend the charter is similar to that made by France in the wake of several recent terrorist attacks on the country.
President Erdogan held an emergency meeting with his national security team
Erdogan had warned in a televised speech that there "may be more plans" from dissidents to try and overthrow the government.
And the latest restriction on personal liberties is aimed at rooting out the conservative president's opponents.
In his announcement, Kurtulmus said: "Turkey will suspend the European Convention on Human Rights in so far as it does not conflict with its international obligations just like France has done under Article 15 of the convention."
Erdogan said earlier said the state of emergency was ordered to "take the most efficient steps in order to remove this threat as soon as possible, which is a threat to democracy, to the rule of law, and to the rights and freedoms of citizens in our country".
Speaking at a press conference after a meeting with his security council, he said that declaring the state of emergency was not outside Turkey's constitution or rule of law, and that Europeans have "no right to criticise" the decision.
The announcement will raise further concerns about restrictions on freedoms and rights in Turkey, which was shaken by an attempt to unseat Erdogan last weekend.
What does President Erdogan's state of emergency mean for Turkey?
Turkey has spent 40 years in various states of emergency since the nation was founded by Kemal Ataturk in 1923.
The measures allow the president and cabinet to bypass parliament when making new laws and limiting civic freedoms.
Threats to reintroduce the death penalty following last Friday's attempted coup could become reality under the new powers.
Emergency measures were last removed in 2002, when they were lifted in the regions of Diyarbakir and Sirnak following years of conflict between Kurdish militants and state security forces.
As part of the move, all academics have been banned from leaving the country.
Almost a third of the country's military top brass have been charged following the attempted coup in Istanbul.
While an estimated 50,000 state employees have been arrested or sacked for alleged ties to the plot to bring down Erdogan's government.
Amnesty international described the move as a purge of "exceptional proportions".
It also comes as concerns grow over the scale of the ensuing crackdown that has targeted thousands of judges, civil servants, teachers, police officers and soldiers, and amid widespread fears of growing authoritarianism on the part of Erdogan.
Turkish officials have insisted that the measures are necessary to preserve security and stability as the country grapples with the coup’s aftermath.
“The country and our democracy came under attack on Friday evening,” a senior Turkish official said following the announcement.
“Over the past year a number of countries including France and Belgium had to make similar decisions.”
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Erdogan said the move was necessary to allow “swift and effective” measures against the Gulen movement, a liberal Islamic movement started by Turkish preacher Fethullah Gulen who now resides in the United States.
Gulen, who lives in Pennsylvania, is accused of masterminding the uprising.
Erdogan said his administration was complying with Washington's request to provide evidence of the cleric's involvement in the coup, which US officials have demanded before his deportation.
But despite the rising tensions in recent days, he said Ankara must continue its solidarity with America - and insisted the issue of Gulen's extradition needs to be separated from the Pentagon's use of Incirlik airbase in the fight against Islamic State.
In response to claims that he is using the unrest to seize further power, Erdogan said: "We will remain within a democratic parliamentary system, we will never step away."
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