The Turkish government on Thursday ended the two-year state of emergency imposed after a failed coup attempt in 2016.
Turkish media reported on Thursday, the government decided not to extend the state of emergency. The government had renewed the emergency seven times.
The decision comes weeks after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was re-elected.
Ahead of the polls, Erdogan had promised to lift the state of emergency if brought back to power, but had said the government would also bring in new counter-terrorism laws and take tough action against any threat to the country’s security.
Meanwhile, with prayers and other events, Turkey commemorated the second anniversary of thwarting a coup against the Turkish president and the government that left nearly 290 people dead and hundreds wounded.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey has "cut off the arms of the octopus the cursed in Pennsylvania grew with hypocrisy, tricks, lies and within big secrecy." He was referring to Fethullah Gulen, the U.S.-based opponent Turkey blames for the coup, and said the government has brought down Gulen's movement within the public and private sector.
Erdogan, who won re-election last month and was sworn into office July 9 under a new executive government system that concentrates power in the president's hands, addressed tens of thousands of people gathered Sunday night on an Istanbul bridge that was renamed as the July 15 Martyrs' Bridge.
On July 15, 2016, factions within the Turkish military used tanks, warplanes and helicopters in an attempt to overthrow Erdogan. Clashes took place in Istanbul, Ankara and Marmaris, where Erdogan was on holiday and reportedly barely escaped capture. Fighter jets bombed parliament and other spots in Turkey's capital. Heeding a call by the president, thousands took to the streets to stop the coup.
