Jubilant Turks mark anniversary of failed coup bid

Turkey yesterday marked one year since the defeat of the failed coup bid with mass nationwide rallies and a stern warning by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to “chop off the heads” of traitors.The authorities have declared July 15 an annual national holiday of “democracy and unity”, billing the foiling of the putsch as a historic victory of Turkish democracy.In an intense programme, Erdogan attended a special session of parliament in Ankara, spoke to a mass rally in Istanbul and was set to return to the capital for more events before dawn.Speaking to a rally of hundreds of thousands by the bridge across the Bosphorus in Istanbul that was the centre of much of the fighting, Erdogan warned that Turkey was mulling reintroducing capital punishment.“First of all we will chop off the heads of those traitors,” Erdogan said, reaffirming he would sign any passed by parliament bill on resuming executions.Erdogan also said the suspects being tried over the failed coup should wear uniform clothing like the notorious orange jumpsuits used at US military prison at Guantanamo Bay.“When they appear in court, let’s make them appear in uniform suits like in Guantanamo,” Erdogan said to cheers, before unveiling a memorial to the victims.Many supporters carried the Turkish flag while others brandished pictures of the “martyrs” who died defeating the coup. A sea of people stretched from the bridge, which has since been renamed Bridge of the Martyrs of July 15. Page 15Emir congratulates Turkish presidentHis Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and His Highness the Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani sent yesterday cables of congratulations to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the occasion of the Democracy and National Unity Day. HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani also sent a similar cable of congratulations to Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim.