Ankara is planning to narrow the scope of the state of emergency with plans to abolish some implementations and restrictions in the upcoming term.
The state of emergency in Turkey was one of the topics headlining the Council of Ministers meeting earlier this week as it decided to narrow it down.
In the meeting, some of the practices that were being carried out to prevent the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) members from fleeing were discussed. Practices such as the obligation for public servants to get letters of permission of leave from their institutions when taking tiem off from work, were unanimously deemed unnecessary for the time being.
Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım also gave instructions for officials to review all practices introduced during the state of emergency. All ministries, in line with Yıldırım's instruction, will review presidential decrees that have been issued since the declaration of the state of emergency and all the initiatives based on the decrees.
Moreover, the Turkish state previously took a step toward correcting the mistakes made with suspensions and dismissals through presidential decrees. The State of Emergency Procedures Investigation Commission, so far, has received more than 100,000 complaints from people who have either been suspended or dismissed from their duties under cabinet decree since the state of emergency was declared.
The commission received 101,304 complaints regarding dismissals, suspensions and various other decisions made under the presidential decree since the start of state of emergency. The commission, established to investigate the affiliations with terrorist groups or relevant suspects of every applicant, is headed by Justice Ministry Undersecretary Judge Selahaddin Menteş.
On May 22, the commission started to investigate the complaints that had been filed as well as any suspected affiliations the suspect may have with terrorist groups or individuals, which will be considered criteria for further investigation during the probe.
On Tuesday Oct. 17, Parliament extended the state of emergency for an additional three months, marking the fifth extension since it was declared on July 20, 2016. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) voted in favor of the extension, while the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) were against it.
The state of emergency was initially ordered by Parliament on July 21, 2016 and was imposed in the wake of the July 15 coup attempt.
