Erdogan Blames Gulenist Network, Calls on Public to Fight in Public Squares

Speaking on CNN Turk by phone, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke to the country from a safe space calling on them to fight back against the military coup by taking ground in public spaces and the airport.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave a brief statement via CNN Turk calling on the country’s people to fight back against what he called a Gulenist network effort to undermine the country’s democracy. In the statement, Erdogan urged citizens to wage conflict and take to the streets in protest.

Turkey remains in a state of martial law under the total control of a self-appointed military government that refers to themselves as a “Peace Council” that purportedly will serve as an interim government to reinstall democratic practices and the rule of law in the Middle East country.

Despite losing control of the government, Erdogan remained defiant declaring that those responsible for the attack would face a heavy price and that the coup would be stopped in a “short time.”

“It is know that there was a coup attempt,” said Erdogan. “I’m waiting for all of our people on the streets and squares. Together we will give an adequate response. It is know that this attempted coup was led by the “Parallel Structure.” The instigators of the coup will suffer severe punishment and will pay dearly for it.”

“Parallel Structure” is a reference to followers of Fethullah Gulen, also known as Gulenists, a US-based Muslim cleric who has repeatedly been accused of attempting to foment an uprising against the Turkish government.

The Turkish President faced mockery for giving the report to Western media via Skype or FaceTime with analysts saying it was a final sign that Erdogan had once and for all lost control.

Imagine Theresa May. On Facetime. On a mobile. On private channel bc can’t get on state tv. Saying “I’m in control” https://t.co/A2BZAx3ycP

— Matthew Goodwin (@GoodwinMJ) July 15, 2016

Erdogan also made appeals via Twitter to the Turkish people to stop the coup saying that “The survival of our democracy and national unity rely on seizing back the public squares and airports.”

Milletimizi demokrasimize ve milli iradeye sahip çıkmak üzere meydanlara, havalimanlarına davet ediyorum.

— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RT_Erdogan) July 15, 2016

Once the gem of the region and a bastion of both human rights and democracy, the country’s posture towards dissent has changed in recent years under Erdogan who recently pushed a constitutional amendment providing authority to imprison opposition lawmakers under an expanded definition of terrorism. The government has also repeatedly cracked down against journalists throughout the country by stripping credentials, ousting reporters, and in some instances imprisoning those they viewed as a threat.