Turkey’s delicate return to normal

The coup plotters must face justice in a manner that doesn’t destroy the country

Since members of the Turkish army attempted to topple the elected government, Turkey has arrested, fired or suspended more than 60,000 civil servants, judges, police officers and even flight attendants across the country. This week, the purge of those suspected to be involved with the coup extended to the press as Ankara issued 42 arrest warrants for journalists.

The Turkish government is in a difficult situation. The country survived an illegitimate assault on its democracy. Thankfully, the coup plotters failed and the democratically elected government was able to reassert its control. The aftermath raises questions about the health of Turkish democracy. As the coup was being rebuffed, thousands of Turks answered president Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s calls to take to the streets and rally for the legitimate government in a rare display of unity across the political spectrum.

Turkey must build on this unity instead of squandering it but the post-coup purge raises questions if this will happen. More than 13,000 people have been detained. Before it was even clear that Mr Erdogan’s government had regained full control over the country, more than 2,000 judges had been removed from their posts. Turkish Airlines, the national flag carrier, has fired 211 staff over concerns that they are linked to the exiled cleric Fetuallah Gullen, who the government has blamed for the coup. Turkish academics have been banned from overseas travel as part of the crackdown.

Turkey has several serious challenges that it must resolve but it is unclear how barring academics from travelling will help get it back on track. The country is a critical Nato member and on the front line in the fight against ISIL in Syria. An elongated witch hunt that will give Mr Erdogan the tools to settle old scores and possibly accelerate his path to total control will not fix Turkey’s internal tensions. Rather, a swift return to constitutional normality will be the greatest benefit to Turkey and the region.