UPDATE - Council of Europe condemns coup attempt in Turkey

UPDATES WITH MORE QUOTES FROM ISCAN’S LETTER

STRASBOURG (AA) - The Council of Europe's commissioner for human rights has strongly condemned last Friday’s coup attempt in Turkey, which killed more than 240 people.

“I condemn in the strongest possible terms the contemptible attempt to overthrow the democratically elected government in Turkey,” Commissioner Nils Muiznieks said in a statement on Wednesday.

“I rejoice in the fact that the Turkish people unambiguously foiled this attempt, and that all democratic political currents and leaders stood united against it,” he added.

The Turkish government has repeatedly said the failed coup was staged by the supporters of U.S.-based cleric Fetullah Gulen – in a terrorist group called FETO – who is accused of a long-running campaign to overthrow the state.

Muiznieks said the perpetrators “must face the full force of the law,” but also warned Turkish authorities that “there is no justice without human rights and the rule of law.”

“The staggering number of civil servants who have been arrested or dismissed in such a short period of time following the attempted coup also raise serious questions regarding equity and due process,” he said in the statement.

Muiznieks’ remarks came after the suspension of tens of thousands of public employees in the military, police, education sector, and civil service, due to suspected links to the Gulen movement.

“I am also alarmed by images showing torture and ill treatment being inflicted on suspected perpetrators, as well as signs of torture on persons taken into custody, which were published in various media,” Muiznieks said.

“While I am unable to determine the veracity of such allegations, I must stress that there can be no exception to the prohibition of torture, and this will be the ultimate test of Turkey’s zero-tolerance policy,” he added.

Erdogan Iscan, Turkey’s permanent representative to the Council of Europe, responded to Muiznieks’ remarks in a letter.

Iscan criticized Muiznieks’ statements alleging an overreaction to the coup, which he described as “prejudicial remarks based on unconfirmed assumptions and allegation.”

“Those suspected to be part of this terrorist organization [FETO] will be fully investigated and prosecuted if necessary. The investigations are conducted in accordance with international obligations and legislation in force against the terrorist organization which opened fire on the people, attacked the Turkish Grand National Assembly [parliament] as well as other state institutions with aircraft, tanks, and other heavy weapons,” he said.

“The Turkish judicial system continues to function in full observance of its obligations deriving from inter alia, the UN [Universal] Declaration of Human Rights, European Convention on Human Rights, and the case law of the European Court of Human Rights,” he added.