The recent announcement by Turkish Justice Minister Akın Gürlek and Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi of a new “major cleansing campaign” comes just before the tenth anniversary of the 2016 coup attempt. The Turkish government has undertaken mass arrests, totaling 968 individuals across all 81 provinces in the country. This latest operation is framed as an ongoing battle against the “FETÖ” network, a term used to describe the followers of the late preacher Fethullah Gülen, whom President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan accused of orchestrating the coup from the very night it occurred.
The coup attempt saw over 50,000 individuals imprisoned in its aftermath, affecting a wide range of professions including soldiers, judges, prosecutors, police officers, journalists, teachers, and academics. The Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu revealed that lists of undesirable judges and prosecutors had been prepared even before the coup attempt.
Even today, Erdoğan continues to leverage the image of Gülenists to suppress political opponents. Recently, investigations were reopened into a controversial helicopter crash involving a far-right party leader, with alleged connections to Gülenist sympathizers. The tactics used against opponents extend even to the deposed chair of Turkey’s largest opposition party, Özgür Özel, who now faces similar accusations.
Unpublished Investigative Report
The anniversary of the coup attempt has been designated as a Day of Democracy and National Unity, yet this event remains one of the most divisive in recent Turkish history. Supporters of Erdoğan commemorate the occasion with a march across the Bosphorus Bridge, now renamed the “Bridge of Martyrs.” Conversely, many critics assert that certain elements of that night were staged, referring to it as a “controlled coup.”
Despite the government’s insistence on the narrative of victory over the coup plotters, minimal effort has been made to clarify the events of that night. A parliamentary investigation report was never published. In 2019, then-deputy speaker Süreyya Sadi Bilgiç explained that the report had never been completed and therefore not officially submitted.
Key figures from that night, including Turkey’s current Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and former Chief of Staff Hulusi Akar, were never interrogated by parliament. Prosecutors seeking accountability were reassigned, demonstrating a clear lack of interest from the state in fully addressing the events of the coup attempt.
Unresolved Questions About the Coup
Several crucial questions remain unanswered: Why did Erdoğan claim to have learned about the coup plans only in the evening when the pilot had informed the Turkish intelligence MIT that afternoon? Experts believe the coup plotters might have acted hastily knowing they were discovered. Some even suggest the coup attempt might have been a preemptive move against a planned cleansing campaign.
Another puzzling aspect is why Adil Öksüz, a theologian reportedly linked to Gülen, was allowed to move freely at the Akıncı Air Base on the day of the coup. Although arrested, he was later released, and his current whereabouts remain unknown.
Government Narratives Versus Reality
The government adopted a narrative of the people’s victory over the coup plotters, which was cemented by Erdoğan’s direct calls for resistance via live broadcasts that night. This narrative has been pivotal in unifying Erdoğan’s supporters while simultaneously marginalizing dissent.
Brute force was also apparent, as panicked soldiers shot at civilians while others sought to defend the government, leading to numerous casualties. Official reports have declared 253 deaths, branding these individuals as “martyrs” and ensuring that their sacrifice is memorialized in governmental narratives, despite the controversial circumstances surrounding their demise.
Over the years, the crackdown against Gülenists has fostered a pervasive atmosphere of paranoia, where mere rumors could lead to ostracization, job losses, and social exclusion. This environment of fear has not been limited to Erdoğan’s supporters but has also seen participation from other political factions, such as Kemalists, further complicating Turkey’s social dynamics.
In conclusion, the legacy of the coup attempt continues to shape Turkey’s political landscape. While the government promotes a narrative of victory, many questions remain unanswered, suggesting a complex interplay of power dynamics, fear, and repression that is unlikely to fade anytime soon. The ramifications of the 2016 event will be felt for years to come, both domestically and internationally.
