Turkish parliament extends state of emergency

By Seval Guler

ANKARA

The Turkish parliament extended Tuesday the country's ongoing state of emergency for another three months.

The general assembly approved the motion on an extension of the state of emergency as of April 19, 1.00 a.m. (2200GMT Tuesday).

After last summer’s deadly coup attempt, which martyred 249 people and injured nearly 2,200 others, Turkey declared a state of emergency on July 20.

According to the Turkish Constitution, a state of emergency can be declared for a maximum period of six months.

To enact the state of emergency, the government must see serious indications of widespread violence that could interfere with Turkey's democratic environment or its citizens' basic rights and freedoms as established by the Constitution.