Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan stated that if the legislature sent him a measure on the subject, he might agree to reinstate the death sentence, according to broadcaster NTV.

Erdogan’s justice minister said at the weekend Turkey would consider turning back the 2004 abolishment of capital punishment after the president earlier raised the issue in connection with the cause of wildfires. His nationalist ally Devlet Bahceli has backed the idea and said the penalty should extend to terrorism, rape, and the murder of women.

“If necessary, this should be brought back on the agenda and made into a debate. We should see what comes of this debate,” Erdogan was cited as saying.

“I said it before, if parliament makes such a decision as a result of our justice ministry’s work, I will approve this decision,” he added.