MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Late on Friday, Turkish authorities said that an attempted coup took place in the country.
Amnesty International public statement on Turkey: rights must be respected in aftermath of failed coup #TurkeyCoup pic.twitter.com/EE44ANSFCt
— Peray Ahmet (@perayahmet) 16 July 2016
"The coup attempt unleashed appalling violence and those responsible for unlawful killings and other human rights abuses must be brought to justice, but cracking down on dissent and threatening to bring back the death penalty are not justice," Amnesty International’s Director for Europe and Central Asia John Dalhuisen said in a statement.
The group urged the Turkish authorities to respect the rule of law as they carry out the necessary investigations.
"Mass arrests and suspensions are deeply worrying in a context of increasing intolerance of peaceful dissent on the part of the Turkish government, and there is a risk that this crackdown will be extended to journalists and civil society activists," Dalhuisen added.
The coup attempt was suppressed by early Saturday, with Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim stating that all coup supporters were identified and would be apprehended as the country was returning to normal life.
Over 290 people were killed and hundreds were injured during the events, while nearly 6,000 people have already been detained.
