Capital punishment soon if parliament approves it, Erdoğan tells crowd in Ankara

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan repeated his decision to approve the installment of capital punishment if the parliament approves a related code while responding to chantings from the crowd at the opening of a main train station for high-speed trains in the capital city of Ankara on Oct. 29.

"Soon, soon, don't worry," Erdoğan said, in response to a group in the crowd chanting "We want death penalty."

"It is soon inshallah," he said.

"Our government will bring this [issue] to the parliament and I believe that it will pass the parliament. I will approve it when it comes to me." 

"If sovereignty rests with the nation, the issue is over," he said. 

"It doesn't count what the West says but my nation," the president said.

Capital punishment has not been implemented in Turkey since 1984 and it was abolished officially in 2004. 

The new station was inaugurated on the country's national day, the 93rd anniversary of the founding of the Turkish Republic. 

Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım and other state officials were present at the ceremony. 

According to Turkish State Railways (TCDD), which is responsible for the country's railway operations, the new station is capable of providing services to 50,000 passengers daily.        

The facility also boasts 134 hotel rooms and over 200 rentable areas for restaurants, coffee shops, entertainment venues, stores, and offices.        

The new station, which is located close to the city center, can be accessed through underground and ground lines and also has car park with a capacity of more than 900 vehicles.        

The $235 million train station, which was built in two years, is among a set of leading infrastructure...