Forest fires in Turkey: Recep Tayyip Erdogan brings death penalty for arson into play

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President Erdoğan flying over the forest fire area near Marmaris

Photo:

Murat Cetinmuhurdar / REUTERS

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has hinted at reinstating the death penalty in connection with the forest fires in his country.

'Where is it going?

Death penalty?

It should be the death penalty," Erdoğan said on Friday during a speech in the fire-hit region near the city of Marmaris.

The death penalty could be a "deterrent" punishment, the president said.

He left open whether Erdoğan was referring directly to the punishment of arson.

The death penalty has been abolished in Turkey.

In the past, however, Erdoğan had often advocated the reintroduction of the death penalty, drawing harsh international criticism.

In the southwestern Turkish holiday region of Marmaris, emergency services have been fighting fires for several days, which Erdoğan says have so far covered 4,000 hectares of forest.

According to the state news agency Anadolu, there have already been arrests in connection with the allegation of arson.

Erdoğan says fires are under control

According to the president, the fires near Marmaris are largely under control.

According to the AP news agency, 45 people were directly affected by the fires and 19 were taken to a hospital for treatment.

More than 400 people had to leave their homes.

"We are happy that no one was killed and that no one is missing," Erdoğan said, according to the AP.

More than 2,500 firefighters and 41 firefighting aircraft and helicopters were deployed to contain the fire.

The Turkish firefighters were also supported by Azerbaijan and Qatar.

The region around Marmaris and Bodrum was badly hit by forest fires last year.

According to the Reuters news agency, Turkish officials complain that the government is once again not sufficiently prepared for the danger.

The government in Ankara denies this.

fek/dpa/AP