President makes gesture in fiery speech, telling west to ‘mind your own business’ in wake of concerns about crackdown after failed coup

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said he is dropping all lawsuits against those charged with insulting him, and warned western countries to “mind your own business” following concerns about retribution against suspected coup plotters.

Speaking at an event in Ankara on Friday, commemorating those killed and wounded during the failed military coup on 15 July, Erdoğan said he was withdrawing all the lawsuits for insults against his person.

“For one time only, I will be forgiving and withdrawing all cases against the many disrespects and insults that have been levelled against me,” he said.

Turkish journalist tells of lack of media ethics after failed coup Read more

“I feel that if we do not make use of this opportunity correctly, then it will give the people the right to hold us by the throat. So I feel that all factions of society, politicians first and foremost, will behave accordingly with this new reality, this new sensitive situation before us.”

Hundreds of people have been charged with insulting the president, including on social media.

Erdoğan also lashed out at the west for failing to show solidarity with Ankara over a failed coup and said countries who worried more about the fate of the perpetrators than Turkey’s democracy could not be friends.

He told the EU and US to “mind your own business” after the west expressed alarm over the growing crackdown against suspected coup plotters, as a court placed 17 journalists under arrest.



Turkey has detained more than 18,000 people over the coup which Ankara blames on the US-based preacher Fethullah Gülen, with the relentless crackdown sparking warnings from Brussels that its EU membership bid may be in danger.

“Some people give us advice. They say they are worried. Mind your own business! Look at your own deeds,” Erdoğan said in Friday’s speech at his presidential palace.

“Not a single person has come to give condolences either from the European Union ... or from the west,” said Erdoğan.

“And then they say that ‘Erdoğan has got so angry’!” he said.

“Those countries or leaders who are not worried about Turkey’s democracy, the lives of our people, its future – while being so worried about the fate of the putschists – cannot be our friends.”

Erdoğan vowed to take all steps “within the limits of the law” as Turkey seeks legal retribution for the perpetrators of the coup.

A Turkish official said 3,500 of those detained have now been released after questioning.