MESOP NEWS : ANOTHER HANGMAN IN MIDDLE EAST – Death penalty should be reinstated after April 16 referendum: Erdogan
14 April 2017 – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he believes the government should submit a draft on reinstating the death penalty in the event that the constitutional amendments are approved in the upcoming referendum on April 16. “After April 16, with God’s permission, the draft would be brought to parliament. If it passes in parliament, I will approve it,” Erdogan said at a rally in the eastern province of Erzurum on April 12.
Although the death penalty has not been in effect since 1984, Turkey abolished the capital punishment in 2004 as a part of reforms to ease Turkey’s accession into the European Union. The move was initiated by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and supported by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP).
Erdogan vows the people’s demand for the death penalty would be met, Hurriyet daily reported. Calls for the death penalty were among the most recited chants in public rallies.
“April 16 will be the day to decide that,” he said.Erdogan said the reinstatement of the death penalty could be brought to the agenda with a consensus of all political parties.