Türkiye marks 43rd anniversary of 1980 military coup

This dark chapter left an indelible mark on the nation, as nearly 1.7 million people were profiled, 230,000 individuals were subjected to trials, and 517 received the death penalty.

The 1980 Turkish coup d'état, orchestrated by Chief of the General Staff General Kenan Evren, marked the third coup in the Republic's history, following the 1960 and 1971 coups by memorandum. The coup occurred against the backdrop of unprecedented political violence that had erupted in Türkiye during the late 1970s. An estimated 5,000 people lost their lives during the tumultuous decade, with almost ten assassinations occurring daily, primarily involving left-wing and right-wing political groups.

In the lead-up to the coup, the country experienced a wave of violence, with notable incidents like the 1977 Taksim Square massacre, the 1978 Bahçelievler massacre, and the 1978 Maraş massacre. Martial law was declared in several provinces in response to the escalating violence.

The coup's planning began in earnest in late 1979, with General Kenan Evren ordering a report on the necessity of a coup. The coup was initially set for July 11, 1980, but it was postponed due to political developments. Ultimately, on September 12, the National Security Council, headed by Evren, declared the coup on national television. Martial law was extended nationwide, the Parliament and government were abolished, the Constitution was suspended, and all political parties and trade unions were banned.

Coup in Numbers:

The aftermath of the coup saw a massive crackdown, with hundreds of thousands of people detained, tried, and subjected to various forms of punishment. Between 250,000 and 650,000 individuals were detained, 230,000 were tried, 14,000 lost their citizenship, and 50 were executed. Countless others faced torture, and thousands disappeared. A staggering 1,683,000 people were blacklisted. Prominent political figures, including Süleyman Demirel, Bülent Ecevit, Alparslan Türkeş, and Necmettin Erbakan, were imprisoned and temporarily barred from politics.

For the subsequent three years, the Turkish Armed Forces governed the country through the National Security Council until democracy was restored with the 1983 Turkish general election, although this period witnessed an intensification of state-sponsored Turkish nationalism, including the banning of the Kurdish language.

U.S. Involvement:

Allegations of American involvement in the coup surfaced, with claims that the CIA's Ankara station chief, Paul Henze, tacitly acknowledged U.S. support. Journalist Mehmet Ali Birand's book "12 Eylül: saat 04.00" reported that after the government's overthrow, Henze cabled Washington, saying, "our boys did it."

Trial of Coup Leaders:

In the aftermath of the 2010 referendum, an investigation into the coup was initiated. In June 2011, General Kenan Evren and General Tahsin Şahinkaya, the remaining living coup leaders at the time, were indicted for their roles in the coup. Prosecutors sought life sentences, citing "inhumane" acts that led to the death of 191 people in custody during the coup's aftermath. The trial began on April 4, 2012, and in 2014, both generals were sentenced to life imprisonment. General Şahinkaya passed away in 2015, while General Evren died in 2015 with his sentence under appeal.

As Türkiye reflects on this somber anniversary, it remembers the tumultuous events of September 12, 1980, and their profound impact on the nation's history. (ILKHA)