ISTANBUL — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave signals that Turkey might reinstate capital punishment in the wake of Friday’s failed coup attempt.
Erdogan spoke to his supporters in front of his Istanbul residence Sunday evening. His speech was punctuated by frequent calls of “we want the death penalty” from the large crowd, to which Erdogan responded: “We hear your request. In a democracy, whatever the people want they will get.”
Adding that they will be in contact with Turkey’s opposition parties to reach a position of capital punishment, “We will not delay this decision for long. Because those who attempt a coup in this country must pay.”
Turkey hasn’t executed anyone since 1984 and capital punishment was legally abolished in 2004 as part of its bid to join the European Union.