UN chief urges Turkey to ensure full respect of constitutional order, human rights law

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday urged the Turkish authorities "to do their utmost to ensure that the constitutional order and international human rights law are fully respected, in line with Turkey's international obligations."

The secretary-general, in a statement issued here by his spokesman, said that "these include the freedoms of expression, movement and peaceful assembly; independence of the judiciary and of the legal profession; and adherence to due process."

"The secretary-general hopes that procedures under the state of emergency will be carried out in full transparency," the statement said.

In relation to the declaration of a state of emergency for a period of three months in Turkey, the secretary-general took note of the repeated assurances by senior Turkish government officials regarding full adherence to the rule of law and due process when investigating and prosecuting those deemed to be responsible for the attempted coup on July 15.

"This is particularly important in the aftermath of the declaration of the state of emergency and the ongoing widespread arrests, detentions and suspensions," the statement said.

On Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared state of emergency for three months following the failed coup attempt.

The state of emergency will take into effect after it is approved by the parliament.

The failed coup attempt, which began last Friday, was crushed the next day; at least 290 people, including more than 100 "coup plotters," were killed, the Turkish authorities said. Enditem