Turkish security council recommends extending three-month state of emergency

Turkey's top security body has recommended that the country's ongoing state of emergency be extended, according to initial reports from a meeting in the Turkish capital.        
The National Security Council (MGK), which convened on Sept. 28 in Ankara under the chairmanship of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, made a number of statements on the July 15 coup attempt, Turkey's Syria policy and counter-terrorism.    
   
During the almost six-hour meeting, the council recommended that the state of emergency be extended beyond its initial three-month period.      
 
"It has been agreed to recommend an extension to the state of emergency in order to ensure the continuity of the effective implementation of the measures aiming to protect our democracy, the rule of law and the rights and freedoms of our citizens," read the statement issued after meeting.    
    
After the coup attempt, which killed more than 240 people and injured nearly 2,200 others, Turkey declared a state of emergency on July 20.        

According to the Turkish Constitution, a state of emergency can be declared for a maximum period of six months.        

To enact the state of emergency, the government must see serious indications of widespread violence that could interfere with Turkey's democratic environment or its citizens' basic rights and freedoms as established by the constitution.        

The MGK also insisted on a "terror-free zone" and a "no-fly zone" in northern Syria as well as recognizing July 15 as a special day.        

"It is recommended that July 15, the day of the coup attempt by the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), be declared as a 'Day of Democracy and Freedom' in Turkey," the statement said.