Failed Military Coup Gives Erdogan Pretext to Disregard Human Rights

The failed military coup attempt in Turkey gives President Recep Tayyip Erdogan an excuse to disrespect human rights and force his politics on the citizens, a Swiss lawmaker from the Christian Democratic People's Party told Sputnik.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Following the unsuccessful coup, the Turkish Interior Ministry sacked close to 9,000 personnel across the country, including members of the armed forces, as well as governors, military advisers, prosecutors and judges.

"The putsch in Turkey helps Erdogan to force his politics and his strategy. It gives him the legitimation to disregard human rights. The putsch was bad for democracy and for the European way to live together," Elisabeth Schneider-Schneiter, who is also a member of the National Council's Foreign Affairs Committee, said.

Erdogan called the coup attempt an "uprising of the minority within the army" and urged the citizens to take to the streets to protect the country and democracy.

On Monday, at a joint news conference, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and US Secretary of State John Kerry called on Turkey to respect democracy and human rights in its response to the failed coup.

Almost 300 people were killed and more than 1,400 wounded during the failed coup which saw warplanes fire on key government installations and tanks rolling into Ankara and Istanbul.