Erdogan 'Ready' to Reinstate Death Penalty, Fends Off Staged Coup Claims

Protestors hold Turkish flags during a demonstration against coup, in Istanbul, Turkey, July 18, 2016. Gulen has been accused by Turkish President Recept Tayyip Erdogan of allegedly orchestrating the 15 July failed coup attempt. EPA/BGNES

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said the death penalty could "always" be reintroduced, amid "demands" for its restoration that followed the failed coup attempt.

He has added reports about a "staged" coup are "only misinformation": "How can you allow so many civilians to lose their lives? How can human conscience allow that?"

Additionally, Turkey's security council is set to meet on Wednesday, July 20, to announced an important decision, he has announced.

With regard to the death penalty, he has said citizens' demands should be taken into account.

"This issue now can be taken to the agenda of the parliament and it can be discussed there. We previously abolished it, but we can always go back and re-introduce it," he has told CNN.

The military coup attempt left several hundred (including alleged plotters and participants) dead and resulted in the detentions of thousands of people and the dismissal of police officers, soldiers, and magistrates across the country.

"There is a clear crime of treason. Your request [Turkish people] can never be ignored by our government. But the leaders have to come together and discuss it. If they accept to discuss it, then as the president I will approve any decision that comes out of the parliament."

He has also reiterated the claim in an address to supporters outside his residence in Istanbul.

Turkey abolished the death penalty in 2004 under pressure from the EU as it was a few years into its accession candidacy.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has voiced her concern over the possibility that Turkey brings it back, warning such a move might put an end to its bid to join.

"You cannot put aside people's demands," the BBC quotes him as saying.

He has added that "only in European countries is there no capital punishment," unlike the US, Russia, and China.

Speaking to the crowd, and earlier to CNN, he has also repeated that allegations of him using the coup for to carry out a purge and crack down on his opponents are "libel".

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