Erdogan to drop all lawsuits against people who insulted him

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced he will withdraw all lawsuits against people who have been charged with insulting him.

He said that this “one-off gesture of goodwill” was inspired by feelings of unity in the country in the wake of the recent failed military coup.

Earlier this year, Turkish authorities said that around 2,000 people were facing such charges.

However, Erdogan stepped up his attacks against countries who have criticised his crackdown in the wake of the failed coup, telling them to “mind their own business”.

“Some people give us advice. They say they are worried. Mind your own business! Look at your own deeds,” he said. “Not a single person has come to give condolences either from the European Union or from the West. These 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 putchists – cannot be our friends.”

Earlier on Friday, Erdogan blasted US general Joseph Votel, head of the US Central Command, warning him to “know your place”.

“You are taking the side of coup plotters instead of thanking this state for defeating the coup attempt,” he said.

Votel had said: “We have certainly had relationships with a lot of Turkish leaders – military leaders in particular. I am concerned about what the impact is on those relationships as we continue.”

Over 66,000 public sector workers have been dismissed from their posts in the wake of the failed coup and over 50,000 passports have been cancelled. The state has also shut down 142 media outlets and detained several journalists. On Thursday evening, Turkey announced a military reshuffle that included the dishonourable discharge of some 1,700 military servicemen. Around 40% of generals and admirals have been discharged since the coup.