Turkey: State of emergency to be extended through mid-July /update 4

Event

Turkey’s parliament approved on Wednesday, April 18, a three-month extension of the country’s state of emergency. The extension will begin on Friday, April 20, at 01:00 (local time) and will continue through mid-July.

Context

This will be the seventh time that the state of emergency will have been extended since the failed coup d'état on July 15, 2016, which left over 250 people dead. 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). Avoid all demonstrations or public gatherings.