2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt

2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt
Pivox · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Conflict	2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt
Caption	Military vehicles in Ankara during the attempt.
Date	15–16 July 2016
Place	Turkey, primarily Ankara and Istanbul
Result	Coup failed, • Government victory, • Mass purges and arrests
Combatant1	Turkey, • Government of Turkey, • Presidency of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, • Turkish National Police, • Pro-government civilians
Combatant2	Faction within the Turkish Armed Forces, • Peace at Home Council
Commander1	Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Binali Yıldırım, Hulusi Akar, Mîtan Atalay
Commander2	Akin Öztürk, Adil Öksüz, Mehmet Dişli
Casualties1	145 killed (civilians & police)
Casualties2	104 coup plotters killed
Casualties3	Total: 251 killed, 2,194 injured

2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt. The 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt was a failed military endeavor by a faction within the Turkish Armed Forces to seize control of the Government of Turkey. Occurring on the night of 15–16 July 2016, the attempt involved attacks on key institutions in Ankara and Istanbul, including the Turkish Grand National Assembly and the Presidential Complex. It was swiftly countered by forces loyal to the state, led by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, resulting in the collapse of the coup within hours and triggering a massive, prolonged political and legal purge across the country.

Background

Tensions had been building for years between the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) government and elements of the Turkish Armed Forces, which had a history of intervening in politics, as seen in the 1960 Turkish coup d'état and the 1997 Turkish military memorandum. The government's investigation into the Ergenekon and Balyoz alleged coup plots had previously targeted secularist officers. Furthermore, a major rift had developed between the AKP and the Gülen movement, a religious group led by exiled cleric Fethullah Gülen, whom the government accused of infiltrating state institutions. Following corruption scandals in 2013, the Presidency of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan designated the movement as the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) and blamed it for orchestrating the coup attempt.

Coup attempt

On the evening of 15 July, rebel factions within the army mobilized, with soldiers and tanks blockading the Bosphorus Bridge and the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge in Istanbul. In Ankara, fighter jets bombed the Turkish Grand National Assembly and the Turkish National Police headquarters, while special forces attempted to capture the Chief of the General Staff, Hulusi Akar, at the General Staff headquarters. Key state media outlets, including TRT, were seized, and a statement was read declaring the formation of a Peace at Home Council. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, using a smartphone for a live interview on CNN Türk, called for public resistance, leading to confrontations between civilians and soldiers.

Aftermath

The immediate aftermath saw the government declare a state of emergency, granting sweeping powers to the Presidency of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. A vast purge of state institutions began, targeting alleged members of the Gülen movement. Tens of thousands of personnel from the Turkish Armed Forces, judiciary, police, and academia were dismissed or suspended. The government also shut down thousands of private schools, charities, and media outlets linked to the movement. The Council of Europe and various human rights organizations expressed deep concern over the scale of the dismissals and arrests.

Domestic reactions

The main political parties, including the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), condemned the coup attempt, creating a rare moment of unity in the Turkish Grand National Assembly. However, the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) faced significant pressure, with many of its lawmakers later arrested on terrorism charges. Major public demonstrations, dubbed "Democracy and Martyrs' Rallies," were held in support of the government, organized by the Presidency of Religious Affairs.

International reactions

International reaction was largely unified in support of Turkey's democratically elected government. Key allies like the United States, NATO, and the European Union swiftly condemned the violence. However, relations between Ankara and Washington became strained due to Turkey's demand for the extradition of Fethullah Gülen from the United States and U.S. support for the Syrian Democratic Forces in Syria. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation and numerous individual states, including Russia and Iran, also expressed support for the Turkish government.

Investigations and trials

The government launched an unprecedented legal crackdown, overseen by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. The trials, held in specially designated courthouses, resulted in mass convictions, including life sentences for hundreds of military personnel. High-profile figures such as General Akin Öztürk and academic Adil Öksüz were among those tried. The legal processes were criticized by groups like Amnesty International and the United Nations Human Rights Council for procedural flaws. The government also pursued a global campaign, pressuring countries to close institutions linked to the Gülen movement.

Category:2016 in Turkey Category:Attempted coups Category:History of Turkey