If the Turkish public want the death penalty following last month's failed coup then political parties would follow their will, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at a rally in Istanbul on Sunday.

"If the nation makes such a decision (in support of death penalty), I believe political parties will abide by this decision," Erdogan said during a unity rally in Yenikapi square in the touristic Sultanahmet district.

"It is the Turkish parliament that will decide on this (death penalty) given the sovereignty rests with the nation... I declare it in advance, I will approve the decision made by the parliament," Erdogan said.