Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses a crowd gathered at his palace for Iftar -- the meal eaten after sunset during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan -- in Ankara, Turkey, on Monday, June 27.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses a crowd gathered at his palace for Iftar -- the meal eaten after sunset during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan -- in Ankara, Turkey, on Monday, June 27.
Murat Cetinmuhurdar/AP
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks on CNN Turk via a FaceTime call in Istanbul on Friday, July 15, after members of the country's military attempted to overthrow the government.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks on CNN Turk via a FaceTime call in Istanbul on Friday, July 15, after members of the country's military attempted to overthrow the government.
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Erdogan, his wife Emine, his grandchildren and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Kadir Topbas, left, greet the crowd at a presidential election rally in Istanbul on August 3, 2014.
Erdogan, his wife Emine, his grandchildren and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Kadir Topbas, left, greet the crowd at a presidential election rally in Istanbul on August 3, 2014.
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U.S. President Barack Obama shakes hands with Erdogan during a meeting in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington on December 7, 2009.
U.S. President Barack Obama shakes hands with Erdogan during a meeting in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington on December 7, 2009.
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Erdogan oversees the rescue efforts in the eastern province of Bingol on May 1, 2003, following a 6.4 magnitude earthquake that rocked the Turkish region.
Erdogan oversees the rescue efforts in the eastern province of Bingol on May 1, 2003, following a 6.4 magnitude earthquake that rocked the Turkish region.
EYUPHAN KILIC/AFP/Getty Images
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Erdogan wear helmets in Durusu village near Turkey's northern city of Samsun, on November 17, 2005, during the inauguration ceremony for the major trans-Black Sea gas pipeline Blue Stream. The pipeline runs from Russia to Turkey.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Erdogan wear helmets in Durusu village near Turkey's northern city of Samsun, on November 17, 2005, during the inauguration ceremony for the major trans-Black Sea gas pipeline Blue Stream. The pipeline runs from Russia to Turkey.
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Erdogan addresses the media after a meeting with his deputies at his ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) headquarters in Ankara, Turkey, on May 1, 2007. Erdogan unveiled a reform package, including having future presidents elected by popular vote instead of by parliament.
Erdogan addresses the media after a meeting with his deputies at his ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) headquarters in Ankara, Turkey, on May 1, 2007. Erdogan unveiled a reform package, including having future presidents elected by popular vote instead of by parliament.
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Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by Erdogan and his wife Emine Erdogan, gives a David Beckham signed soccer ball to a Turkish boy during at a garden party held for her birthday at the British Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, on May 16, 2008. It was the Queen's first visit to Turkey in 37 years.
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by Erdogan and his wife Emine Erdogan, gives a David Beckham signed soccer ball to a Turkish boy during at a garden party held for her birthday at the British Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, on May 16, 2008. It was the Queen's first visit to Turkey in 37 years.
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Erdogan attends a swearing in ceremony in Ankara, Turkey, on August 28, 2014. Erdogan was sworn in as Turkey's 12th president at a ceremony in parliament, cementing his position as the country's most powerful modern leader.
Erdogan attends a swearing in ceremony in Ankara, Turkey, on August 28, 2014. Erdogan was sworn in as Turkey's 12th president at a ceremony in parliament, cementing his position as the country's most powerful modern leader.
ADEM ALTAN/AFP/Getty Images
Erdogan leaves a polling booth after casting his vote in Turkey's 26th general election at a polling station in Istanbul on November 1, 2015.
Erdogan leaves a polling booth after casting his vote in Turkey's 26th general election at a polling station in Istanbul on November 1, 2015.
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Romanian President Klaus Werner Iohannis, right, and Erdogan walk together during an official welcoming ceremony at the presidential complex in Ankara, Turkey, on Wednesday, March 23.
Romanian President Klaus Werner Iohannis, right, and Erdogan walk together during an official welcoming ceremony at the presidential complex in Ankara, Turkey, on Wednesday, March 23.
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Erdogan delivers a speech during his visit to the Turkish War Colleges Command in Istanbul on Monday, March 28.
Erdogan delivers a speech during his visit to the Turkish War Colleges Command in Istanbul on Monday, March 28.
Kayhan Ozer/Anadolu/Getty Images
Erdogan, right, kicks a soccer ball while Former Turkish President Abdullah Gul watches at Besiktas soccer club's new Vodafone Arena on its opening day in Istanbul on Sunday, April 10.
Erdogan, right, kicks a soccer ball while Former Turkish President Abdullah Gul watches at Besiktas soccer club's new Vodafone Arena on its opening day in Istanbul on Sunday, April 10.
OZAN KOSE/AFP/Getty Images
Erdogan, right, shakes hands with King Salman of Saudi Arabia after the Saudi monarch received Turkey's highest state medal during a ceremony at the presidential complex in Ankara, Turkey, on Tuesday, April 12.
Erdogan, right, shakes hands with King Salman of Saudi Arabia after the Saudi monarch received Turkey's highest state medal during a ceremony at the presidential complex in Ankara, Turkey, on Tuesday, April 12.
ADEM ALTAN/AFP/Getty Images
Erdogan, center, chairs the meeting of the 65th Cabinet of Turkey at the presidential complex in Ankara, Turkey, on Wednesday, May 25.
Erdogan, center, chairs the meeting of the 65th Cabinet of Turkey at the presidential complex in Ankara, Turkey, on Wednesday, May 25.
KAYHAN OZER/AFP/Getty Images
Erdogan, seventh from the left, attends the Kinaliada Corvette Ceremony at Pendik Naval Shipyard in Istanbul on Saturday, June 18.
Erdogan, seventh from the left, attends the Kinaliada Corvette Ceremony at Pendik Naval Shipyard in Istanbul on Saturday, June 18.
Hakan Goktepe/Anadolu/Getty Images
Erdogan, right, attends an Iftar dinner during his visit to the Tank Battalion campus in the Cizre district of Sirnak, Turkey, on Saturday, June 25.
Erdogan, right, attends an Iftar dinner during his visit to the Tank Battalion campus in the Cizre district of Sirnak, Turkey, on Saturday, June 25.
Kayhan Ozer/Anadolu/Getty Images
From left, U.S. President Barack Obama, France's President Francois Hollande, Erdogan and German Chancellor Angela Merkel take their positions for a photo ahead of a working dinner at the presidential palace during the NATO Summit in Warsaw, Poland, on Friday, July 8.
From left, U.S. President Barack Obama, France's President Francois Hollande, Erdogan and German Chancellor Angela Merkel take their positions for a photo ahead of a working dinner at the presidential palace during the NATO Summit in Warsaw, Poland, on Friday, July 8.
JANEK SKARZYNSKI/AFP/Getty Images
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and former Turkish president Abdullah Gul pray during the funeral of a victim of the coup attempt in Istanbul on July 17. In an interview with CNN's Beckey Anderson Erdogan said, "The people now have the idea, after so many terrorist incidents that these terrorists should be killed, that's where they are, they don't see any other outcome to it. I mean, life sentence, or aggravated life sentence... why should I keep them and feed them in prisons, for years to come, that's what the people say. So, they want a swift end to it, because people lost relatives, lost neighbours, lost children, 8-year-olds, 15-year-olds, 20-year-old young people, unfortunately have all been killed during these incidents. Of course they have parents, mothers and fathers, that are morning, they're suffering so the people are very sensitive and we have to act very sensibly and sensitively."
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and former Turkish president Abdullah Gul pray during the funeral of a victim of the coup attempt in Istanbul on July 17. In an interview with CNN's Beckey Anderson Erdogan said, "The people now have the idea, after so many terrorist incidents that these terrorists should be killed, that's where they are, they don't see any other outcome to it. I mean, life sentence, or aggravated life sentence... why should I keep them and feed them in prisons, for years to come, that's what the people say. So, they want a swift end to it, because people lost relatives, lost neighbours, lost children, 8-year-olds, 15-year-olds, 20-year-old young people, unfortunately have all been killed during these incidents. Of course they have parents, mothers and fathers, that are morning, they're suffering so the people are very sensitive and we have to act very sensibly and sensitively."
BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images