Turkish parliament head calls for a new civil constitution

By Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey’s parliament speaker on Wednesday called for a new civilian constitution to be drawn up during the assembly’s new legislative session.

Speaking to parliament's Planning and Budget Committee, Mustafa Sentop called on lawmakers to draft a new civilian constitution.

Sentop said the constitution should be "prepared with a democratic understanding and a holistic approach in line with the expectations of our nation."

Sentop reiterated that the current constitution has seen a number of amendments since it was passed in 1982.

Emphasizing that the need for a new constitution is undisputed, he added: "Thus, it will be possible for our parliament to save our state and nation from the weight of being ruled by a military coup constitution, as soon as possible in this legislative year."

The current constitution was drawn up in the wake of the bloody 1980 coup, which led to the detention of hundreds of thousands of people, along with mass trials, torture, and executions.

Under the coup regime, torture, mistreatment, and poor conditions at prisons left nearly 300 people dead and left survivors facing years of physical and mental anguish.

More than 650,000 people were detained and 230,000 put on trial for mainly political reasons. Fifty people were executed.