Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputy Engin Altay has said his party will consider a proposal from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan about special uniforms for coup suspects, who are allegedly linked with the faith-based Gülen movement, to wear during court hearings in the event it is brought up in the Turkish Parliament.
Altay, who was asked during a news conference in Parliament on Tuesday how the CHP would react if Erdoğan’s proposal is discussed in the legislature, said: “Nobody has the right or the means to challenge the state. Taking into account that the continuation of a state is a characteristic of being a great state, we will consider the proposals when they come before us.”
Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmuş said on Monday that Justice Ministry officials are working to design special uniforms for suspects who are allegedly linked with the Gülen movement, accused of attempting to stage a coup in July 2016, to wear during court hearings. The movement strongly denies any involvement in the putsch.
Speaking to reporters following a Cabinet meeting, Kurtulmuş said: “Our [Justice] Ministry is working on it. There is a high demand from the public. Court hearings are open to the public, so it is more appropriate to bring suspects before the court in uniforms.”
Last week, one of the suspects on trial for an assassination attempt against President Erdoğan on the night of July 15, 2016 was thrown out of the courtroom for wearing a T-shirt bearing the word “hero” because it caused tension between the parties during the hearing.
With regard to the “hero” T-shirt issue, Erdoğan said: “We recently spoke to Mr. Prime Minister. They should wear uniforms like they do at Guantanamo [prison] when going to court.”
On Saturday, a textile manufacturer told CNN Türk that he is willing to donate 50,000 jumpsuits that he designed for people jailed over links to the Gülen movement across the country.
Orange jumpsuits resemble prison uniforms that are used in the United States and Guantanamo prison.
According to the private İhlas news agency, the textile firm that manufactures the “hero” T-shirts stopped production after discussions with the police. The T-shirts were withdrawn from sale in stores and online, İhlas said.