Turkey extends state of emergency for 3 more months

The Turkish parliament on Monday approved a bill to extend the state of emergency for another three months, the fourth such extension since last July's failed coup attempt.

The extension will take effect from Wednesday at 01:00 a.m. (2200 GMT, Tuesday), state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

The motion was ratified after consent votes of the ruling Justice and Development Party and the opposition Nationalist Movement Party.

Under emergency rule, the government can bypass parliament and enact new laws, in addition to limiting or suspending pre-existing rights and freedoms.

Meanwhile, the main opposition Republican People's Party criticized the extension of the state of emergency, arguing that it has polarized the country.

Turkey declared a state of emergency on July 20, 2016, days after a failed military coup, which Ankara blames on the U.S.-based exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen.