A lthough younger generations do not clearly remember a coup in so far as Turkey has not experienced a coup in the classic sense of the word for 36 years, the coups are unfortunately a part of Turkey’s political history. Reversing the acquisitions of Turkey, the coups differ from each other in terms of the organizers, methods, and actors reacting against them. The national will faced suppression with postmodern methods after the 1980 coup, yet the most atrocious coup attempt in the country’s history took place on July 15. July 15 marks the most despicable point in our history and differs from previous coups in many aspects.
The July 15 coup attempt organized by FETÖ firstly differs in terms of the identity of its plotters. For the first time, a messianic group attempted to seize control of the national will; a group that sees ruling Turkey as a divine right granted to them. But it was a classic coup attempt in its methods. And as is already known, it was not their first attempt. Feb. 7 was the first direct insurrection, which resulted in vain. They tried again with the Dec. 17 and 25 process, but failed again. As an ace in the hole, they tried to stage a coup through the TSK, which they had been infiltrating with deception and cheating for more than 30 years. But the nation did not allow them. In previous coups, we did not see any fake mahdis, maledictions or selfaffirming prophecies. The July 15 coup attempt added such concepts in our coup lexicon.
Those who come with a coup
One of the biggest differences between July 15, the Feb. 28 memorandum, and the 1980 coup is that Gülen failed for the first time although he was known for rising in power with coups. FETÖ can be said to have prospered after the 1980 coup. Also, Feb. 28 was used to bring Turkey under the monopoly of the Gülenist organization. Unlike other Islamic groups, the Gülenist group consolidated its power with coups. But this time, they were confronted with an existential threat due to the coup they had attempted for the first time. Their 30-year-old infiltration and controlling activities resulted in vain after the attempt. Those who came to power with a coup have dissappeared with another coup.
Inspired by the Egypt coup, Assad’s tyranny and DAESH’s atrocity, the method of July 15 sets its distinguishing characteristics. Targeting Presidential Palace, the TBMM (Grand National Assembly of Turkey), the Bosphorus Bridge, Special Operations, TRT (Turkish Radio and Television Association), the police and most importantly the people with jets, tanks and helicopters is an unprecedented atrocity which would probably remain as the most despicable event in our history. Adopting DAESH’s method of violent oppression as a result of the Gülenist group’s ideological affinity to DAESH, the coup plotters performed what previous coups and even enemy armies had never done so far. From the moment they saw their failure, they got much more aggressive and reckless, resorting to mass murder methods with the aim of protecting their projects.
The Difference Lies in Three Words: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
The Turkish people’s resistance, the president’s leadership, the stance of civilian politics, the anti-coup unity in the media, the roles of the police and military officers who did not give any credence to this messianic deviance rendered July 15 different from other coups or coup attempts. The resistance of our people, who complained about why the national will had not been defended in previous coups, was unparalleled. It demonstrated the point we have reached in terms of democracy culture. The main difference of July 15 from other coups essentially lies in three words: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. His leadership and courage was also unprecedented. Contrary to the civil politics which were suppressed or imprisoned in previous coups, the president mobilized people to resist by acting as the key figure of the resistance. He landed in Istanbul despite all dangers, which heartened people as well as police and military officers. Media outlets met on a common ground using critical reason for the first time. Resisting the oppression of the coup plotters, the media outlets successfully conveyed what was happening to the public. While acting as the defender of the national will, the police played the most critical role it has played so far. The army’s role was of vital importance. Unlike previous coups, the TSK did not acknowledge the coup. Senior commanders announced their faithfulness to the chief commander and protected democracy. So, they clearly demonstrated that they are a part of the Turkish people, whose democratic responses are so advanced that they even dared to stand up against tanks to resist the coup.
Turkey has borne witness to different kinds of coups until now including unionist, secularist, and pro-NATO ones. But a messianic coup attempt was seen for the first time in its history. On July 15, FETÖ’s messianic teachings tried to capture Turkey via a violent military coup attempt. However, from the president to the people, from soldiers to police, and media to municipalities, entire Turkey resisted, proving FETÖ’s prophecies to be false.
