Western media's twisted view of failed coup, aftermath

Several articles in Western media outlets appear to have mischaracterized the July 15 coup attempt as well as the measures since taken by the Turkish government.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced Wednesday night a nationwide three-month state of emergency after the failed coup, which martyred hundreds of people and injured over 2,100 others.

In an article posted on the BBC website, reporter Mark Lowen reflected incorrect assumptions about the state of emergency, claiming that Erdogan and the Cabinet would be able to enact laws bypassing parliament.

In fact, according to the Turkish Constitution, in the event of a declaration of a state of emergency for a period of maximum 6 months under Articles 119 and 120, the decision is published in the Official Gazette and immediately submitted to parliament for approval.

The Cabinet chaired by the president can pass a decree law in areas where the state of emergency requires it. Those decree laws are also submitted for parliament's approval.

Parliament also has the power to alter the duration of the state of emergency, extend the period for a maximum of four months at a time at the Cabinet’s request, or simply lift it.

In another article posted on July 20 by Paul Kirby headlined "Turkey coup attempt: Who's the target of Erdogan's purge?" the BBC suggests that the mass suspension of civil servants following the failed putsch may be aimed at "weeding out opponents from Turkey's Alevi community."

But according to the government, the civil servants were suspended because of their suspected links with the Fetullah Gulen terrorist organization (FETO), not due to any sectarian affiliations.

Alevis in Turkey are not discriminated against under any legislation and they have constitutional rights equal to all other citizens. 

Protecting democracy

Britain’s The Guardian posted an article by Owen Jones on July 20 headlined "Turkey is our ally. So we cannot ignore the purge that is now under way," claiming, "Turkey’s ever more repressive AKP [Justice and Development Party, AK Party] government [is] wag[ing] war against democracy."

The Guardian article on Wednesday, 20 July 2016

In fact, Erdogan has said the three-month state of emergency is aimed at swiftly taking steps necessary to "eliminate the threat to democracy" in Turkey as well as “the threat to the rule of law and the rights and freedom of [its] citizens."

Turkey's government has said the attempted coup was organized by followers of U.S.-based preacher Fetullah Gulen, who is accused of a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through infiltrating Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary, forming a “parallel state.”

The deadly coup attempt began late on July 15 when rogue elements of the Turkish military tried to overthrow the country's democratically elected government.

The subsequent suspensions, detentions, and arrests have been carried out against individuals who are linked to FETO.

Turkey's National Security Council, after a meeting on Wednesday, said it "once again reaffirmed its commitment to democracy, fundamental rights and freedoms, and the rule of law."

Following January's bloody attacks in Paris, the French government also declared a state of emergency, which has been extended following the horrific July 14 terrorist attack in the French city of Nice. 

Everyone hit the street

British newsweekly The Economist, in an article titled "Erdogan's revenge," claimed that Turkey’s president was "destroying the democracy that Turks risked their lives to defend."

The article criticized Erdogan for declaring a state of emergency and for the arrests and detentions that have been carried out over the last several days.

OPINION - Ethical void at the heart of Western press coverage of Turkey

"Secularists, Kurds and other minorities feel intimidated by Mr. Erdogan’s loyalists on the streets," the article claimed, ignoring the fact that people from all sectors of the country and political creeds rushed to the streets to stop the illegal coup attempt that was aimed at overthrowing the elected government.

President Erdogan, when declaring the state of emergency, stressed, "We never compromised on democracy, and we will not compromise."