Turkey: State of emergency extended until mid-April /update 3

Event

On January 18, the Turkish Parliament voted to extend the ongoing state of emergency, set to expire on January 19, by three months. The approval was expected, as the Turkish parliament is controlled by President Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP). The measures will now remain in place until mid-April, with further extensions likely.

Context

It is the sixth time that the state of emergency has been prolonged since initially being implemented following the failed coup d'état of July 15, 2016. 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).