The 1980 Turkey coup
In 1980, fighting between left and right-wing groups led Turkey's military to take control of the country and detain hundreds of thousands of people.
On 12 September 1980, the army took control in Turkey.
It was not the first time they had done so. It was the third coup d'茅tat in the history of the Republic of Turkey, the previous having been in 1960 and 1971.
The coup followed growing street fighting between left and right-wing groups. Politicians were arrested and parliament, political parties and trade unions were dissolved.
Following the coup at least 50 people were executed and around half a million were detained. Many were tortured and hundreds died in custody.
Vice Admiral Isik Biren, who was an official in the defence ministry, and a former student activist, Murat Celikkan recount their different memories of that time.
(Photo: Portraits of people killed or tortured during the coup are displayed in a courthouse in the capital Ankara. Credit: Adem Atlan/ Getty Images)
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- Mon 12 Sep 2011 08:50GMT91热爆 World Service Online
- Mon 12 Sep 2011 12:50GMT91热爆 World Service Online
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- Mon 12 Sep 2011 21:50GMT91热爆 World Service Online
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The Making of Modern Turkey—Assignment
Interviews, documentaries & voices from 20th and 21st century Turkey.
Archive 2011—Witness History
The story of our times told by the people who were there.
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Witness History
History as told by the people who were there