Turkey Shouldn't Act Hastily On Death Penalty, But People's Will Can't Be Ignored: PM Binali Yildirim

Binali Yildirim said death penalty would require constitutional change. (Reuters Photo)

Ankara: It is not correct to make a hasty decision about the death penalty, but Turkey cannot ignore the demands of its own people, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said today.

Crowds at rallies have repeatedly called for the death penalty for the plotters of a failed coup that attempted to topple the government on Friday night. Turkey outlawed capital punishment in line with its efforts to join the European Union.

Yildirim also said in his comments following a cabinet meeting that reinstating the death penalty would require constitutional change.