Erdogan vows to reinstate death penalty in Turkey

"I believe, God willing, that after the 16 April vote, parliament will do the necessary concerning your demands for capital punishment," Erdogan said at a televised rally in the western city of Canakkale, his words greeted by loud cheers.

To become law, the bill would still need to be signed by the head of state. But Erdogan said he would sign it "without hesitation".

His remarks came as Ankara was locked in a bitter standoff with Europe after Germany and the Netherlands blocked Turkish ministers from campaigning for a 'yes' vote ahead of the referendum on expanding Erdogan's powers.

The spat has seen Erdogan unleashing a volley of barbs against Berlin and The Hague, even likening Germany's leaders to Nazis, in remarks which were on Saturday rubbished by Berlin's top diplomat as "ludicrous".

With the bitter standoff showing no sign of ending, his remarks on restoring the death penalty looked set to further strain relations. 

Turkey completely abolished the death penalty in 2004 as part of its efforts to join the European Union and the bloc has made clear that any move to restore it would scupper Ankara's already-embattled membership bid.

No judicial executions have taken place since 25 October 1984, when leftwing militant Hidir Aslan was hanged following the 1980 military coup.

I believe, God willing, that after the 16 April vote, parliament will do the necessary concerning your demands for capital punishment - Recep Tayyip Erdogan

After the measure was outlawed, the 1999 death sentence against Kurdish separatist leader Abdullah Ocalan – and others on death row – was commuted to life behind bars.

Erdogan has repeatedly raised the idea that Turkey could restore capital punishment. 

But this is the first time he has directly called on parliament to approve it after the referendum on constitutional change.

He raised the idea of bringing back the death penalty after the failed coup of 15 July, suggesting it would bring justice to the families of the victims.

In the wake of the putsch, Ankara launched an unprecedented purge of alleged Gulen supporters, with some 43,000 people jailed and awaiting, or on, trial.