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DERMOT MURNAGHAN: An attempted military coup in Turkey was quashed by its government this weekend.  After a bloody night which left at least 265 people dead and thousands more injured, 3000 soldiers have been arrested and 2700 judges suspended.  President Erdogan of Turkey says those responsible will be punished and the way they are punished could sit uncomfortably with some European countries already concerned by Turkey’s human rights record.  Well I am joined now by Turkey’s Deputy Chief of Mission here in the UK, Cem Isik, and a very good morning to you Mr Isik.  Let me ask you first of all, we’ve seen those pictures in our morning papers today of soldiers stripped, soldiers being whipped and beaten, will they be treated, those that did rebel against the government, will they be treated properly, taken through courts of law and being given judicial process?

CEM ISIK: Let me start by expressing, explaining what happened.  What happened, the situation which unfolded in Turkey on Friday was an attempted coup to overthrow the democratically elected government.  There was a military movement including in the cities of Istanbul and Ankara which was not within the normal military chain of command.  Following the immediate evaluations it was understood that this was a coup, an attempted coup by a group of military personnel from various ranks.  

DM: We’ve kind of got this and I see from a statement they prepared that we’ve kind of got that far but what we’re wondering now is, the coup having failed, as a democratic country with proper legal process, what will happen to those thousands of people now that we’ve seen, some of them in the military, some of them judges – what will happen to them in terms of their punishment?

CEM ISIK: Well Turkey is a democratic secular republic, it is governed by the rule of law and this attempted coup to overthrow the democratically elected has failed. We have seen for the first time aeroplanes, helicopters that were used, that were bought with the money of the people, it was for the first time in the Republic’s history they were turned against the people, they were turned against the parliament, they were turned against government.

DM: So there must be harsh treatment then, I can imply from what you’re saying there.  Some discussion, these are treasonable acts, perhaps the death penalty could be reintroduced in Turkey?

CEM ISIK: These are very serious offences, this is treason, this is treachery.  What will happen is there will be investigations, there will be investigations as to how this happened, who did it and of course everything right now points to the fact that this was a military group from various ranks, not within the chain of command, it wasn’t supported within the chain of command by the Commanders but they were loyal to a terrorist group of Felluthah Gulen.  What will happen is there will be an investigation, there will be … and of course they will be tried and they will receive the punishment.  The first response given to them was from the people, the people acted in solidarity, in unity, they acted with the states, with the Prime Minister, the President, the government and they undermined this attempted coup and the government and the President and everyone elected was, they prevented the coup.

DM: And are you in Turkey aware, obviously you have a long standing application to join the European Union, the way this coup is dealt with will be watched very carefully by those assessing Turkey’s fitness to join the European Union?

CEM ISIK: Let me answer that question but please don’t think that I was dodging the previous question on the death penalty.  The people are furious, they have had tanks pointed at them, war planes pointed at them, they have had helicopters pointed at them, police officers, civilians, they were all killed.  Of course emotions are running high and they have made their calls.  Now of course it is up to any parliament that is in touch with the people and of course the Turkish parliament is no different, to listen to those calls and to evaluate the situation.  We have a functioning parliament, they were yesterday together in an emergency session and they adopted a joint declaration so obviously this parliament, they will heed, they will listen to the people.

DM: So there is possibility the death penalty could be reintroduced?

CEM ISIK: It needs to be evaluated, it needs to be evaluated.  If the people call for it, then the politicians will have to evaluate it in a parliament just like in any democratic society.  As for the EU, Turkey is a long-standing candidate of the European Union to join the European Union, this is a strategic choice that was made a long time ago.  Turkey is a strong member of NATO, it’s a modern secular developing democracy …

DM: Sorry, time is limited but the two answers there have a bearing upon each other.  If the EU then witnesses, if the death penalty is reintroduced and the EU witnesses Turkey shooting and hanging generals and judges, it’s not going to be on the plus side of Turkey’s application.

CEM ISIK: I am not saying that the death penalty will be reintroduced. I am saying that this was abolished by choice, by Turkey, with the support of the people a long time ago.  We have for example the ringleader of the terrorist organisation PKK for example, a terrorist organisation that is also proscribed here in the UK, he was captured back in 1999 and I think we were strong and resilient and resisted all I suppose wish or maybe feeling to impose a death penalty even on him.

DM: There are wider questions as well remaining here about the way President Erdogan and the authorities deal with the aftermath of this.  There are some saying that because it turned out to be such a weak attempt to overthrow him that it actually plays in President Erdogan’s favour and he can now move even further to erode human rights and to maintain his grip, increase his grip on Turkey.

CEM ISIK: I am not quite sure if I agree with the weak attempt. There were war planes, there were helicopters, the Turkey radio and television was seized by means of arms and what I can only describe as psychological warfare, media outlets were seized but the people stood up, they rose, they took the streets, they stood in front of tanks and people died, there was … The press and media for example gave a lesson in democracy.  I don't think this was a weak or any small attempt, this was a very serious event, it will be investigated and they will receive the punishment.  

DM: Okay, Mr Isik, good to see you, thank you very much indeed.  Cem Isik there, Turkey’s Deputy Chief of Mission here in the UK.