OTTAWA – Canada has told Turkey to respect the rule of law as it moves against the plotters of its failed coup, says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Trudeau said Wednesday he is preoccupied about the state of Turkey’s democracy, and that has been communicated to the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“Coups are not a good thing,” Trudeau said in French when asked about Turkey at an Ottawa-area event.
“We are preoccupied at the same time that democratic institutions and the constitution of Turkey be respected, and that the rule of law continues,” he added.
“We need to make sure that all those who will be arrested related to his coup will have the opportunity to defend themselves in a robust and legitimate trial. And those are preoccupations that we’ve communicated to the Turks regarding this.”
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The Turkish leader has moved swiftly against those he believes are responsible, firing 262 military court judges and prosecutors, tens of thousands of teachers, academics and government employees across several sectors.
The Canadian Association of University Teachers sent a letter to the Turkish embassy in Ottawa, calling for an end to crackdown on educators, and the reinstatement of all those fired.
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“The sheer number of arrests and suspensions in recent days is nothing short of alarming, and suggests that purges are now being used to censor anyone, including academics, who is critical of the government,” wrote David Robinson, the association’s executive director.
Erdogan, who faced accusations of violating press freedom before the coup, also revoked the credentials of 34 journalists.
Erdogan blames U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen for sparking last week’s efforts by the military to seize power, and says he is cracking down on his supporters in Turkish institutions.
READ MORE: Who is Fethullah Gulen, the man being blamed for the attempted coup?
Erdogan convened an emergency session of his National Security Council and said he would have an “important decision” afterwards. His government has also detained 9,000 military personnel, including more than 100 generals.
The Turkish leader has mused about reinstating the death penalty, which Turkey abolished in 2004 as a precondition of joining the European Union.
Amnesty International accused Turkey of mounting a crackdown of “exceptional proportions” and called on the government respect human rights and freedom of expression.
“While it is understandable, and legitimate, that the government wishes to investigate and punish those responsible for this bloody coup attempt, they must abide by the rule of law and respect freedom of expression,” said Amnesty’s Turkey researcher Andrew Gardner.
“Turkey’s people are still reeling from the shocking events of the weekend and it is vital that press freedom and the unhindered circulation of information are protected, rather than stifled.”
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