Üsküdar University Founding Rector Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan participated in the “Victory's Name is Turkey, My Big Family, My Turkey: July 15 Panel and Exhibition” organized by the Ministry of Family and Social Services. Stating that July 15, unlike the classical coup understanding, created a deep socio-psychological rupture in society, Tarhan expressed that this uprising was suppressed with the support of the public, leadership, and media. Emphasizing that young people should correctly interpret July 15, Tarhan also stated that coup-plotting is not merely a political act but also a matter of mindset. He articulated that coup-plotting is a matter of mindset, a way of thinking. Tarhan also pointed out that events like coups should never be allowed to legitimize violence as a method of problem-solving or seeking rights.
Among the panelists of the panel organized by the Ministry of Family and Social Services at the Presidential Ankara National Library Conference Hall were Üsküdar University Founding Rector Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, Chief Advisor to the President Mustafa Akış, Deputy Minister of Interior Bülent Turan, Hürriyet Newspaper Ankara Representative Hande Fırat, and July 15 veteran Levent Yücel.
“Society Understood the Value and Taste of Democracy Better”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan began his speech by addressing the relatives of martyrs and veterans; “First and foremost, I want to address our martyrs' families and veterans. The fire of July 15 fell most heavily on their hearts and burned them. I once again extend my respect and gratitude to those who felt this pain most deeply. The suffering experienced on that night, of course, cannot be forgotten. July 15 was quite different from the classical understanding of a coup. Starting from May 27, we experienced many coup attempts such as March 12, February 28, and April 27. None of these should be forgotten. Especially April 27 is an example of a postmodern coup, and a noble stance was also displayed during that period. However, the structure behind July 15 was an uprising carried out by an Atlanticist formation organized within the armed forces. So why did the public react so strongly this time, unlike in previous coups where there was no such resistance? Because society had now experienced and seen the dire consequences of coups. All segments of the public learned lessons from these experiences. They became aware of this mindset that wanted to manipulate the armed forces with a small incident to stage a coup. Society understood the value and taste of democracy better through this process,” he said.
“If July 15 Had Succeeded, Turkey Would Have Been Torn Apart”
Emphasizing the social resistance dimension of the July 15 coup attempt, Tarhan said; “All these grievances accumulated over time. This accumulation led to the formation of a distinct socio-psychological atmosphere in society. However, there is a very important element here that needs attention: how the public should show resistance in such situations. At this point, strong leadership played a crucial role in the emergence of public resistance. Our President's appearance on television to call the public to resistance is the most concrete example of this leadership. I believe there were two important actors on the night of July 15. The first was our President's call to the public to resist, and the second was the media's courage to broadcast freely, especially during a period when TRT was closed. At this point, Hande Fırat should be particularly applauded. That night, by defending media freedom, she brought the leader to the screen, and thus the accumulated sociological power in society was mobilized. After this mobilization, a very serious resistance emerged. Some say for July 15, 'It was a goal, but the referee didn't count it.' The referee here is the public. And what prevented this intervention was the leadership that mobilized the public. If July 15 had succeeded, it would not have been a classical coup. Turkey would have been torn apart. A separate structure would have been established in Thrace, another in the Southeast, and a different administration in Ankara. Such a great danger was averted. This reality must be known. That's why our youth must correctly interpret July 15. The aspect of this event that is more important than its political dimension is its socio-psychological and social resistance dimension. People stood in front of tanks with their bare hands. These people were not soldiers. 2,500 civilians displayed a courageous stance, brave enough to even kick a bomb,” he stated.
“Coup-plotting is a Mindset”
Tarhan, stating that coup-plotting is a matter of mindset, said; “Today, a mindset that still cannot say 'May 27 was wrong' continues to exist in Turkey. We are talking about an understanding that does not find May 27 or February 28 wrong. This means that these individuals are not fundamentally against coups. Because coup-plotting is a matter of mindset, a way of thinking,” he concluded.
“July 15 Created a Collective Trauma in Society”
Stating that July 15 created a collective trauma in society, Tarhan said; “There are important lessons to be learned from this. An asymmetrical war is currently being waged in the world. The starting date of this war, in my opinion, is December 18, 2010. You know how everyone lines up when free food is distributed… A similar situation arose in the Middle East. People were told there was something free with promises like freedom and democracy, and global powers became involved in this picture. Capital owners made plans. This was the second great struggle for division after World War I. What happened was not an act carried out by a simple group of its own volition. It was not an uprising organized by FETÖ with its own intelligence. This was a plan implemented by global powers using them. We must never forget this. July 15 created a collective trauma in society, just as in previous coups. We are still experiencing the traces of this trauma. This is why it is very meaningful to call July 15 the National Unity and Democracy Day. Because today is a symbol of social solidarity and democratic will. Appreciate the value of such national days. These days are important opportunities to pause, reflect, and re-evaluate. Our youth, especially during these periods, should conduct a rapid historical reading and correctly interpret what happened,” he said.
“A Coup is Not Merely a Political Act”
Tarhan, mentioning Üsküdar University's four fundamental mottos, said; “The first of these is criticizability. Democracy is not merely a form of government but also a value. At the heart of democratic culture is openness to criticism. Turkey went through an important turning point after July 15. Currently, constitutional amendment is on the agenda along with the discourse of a 'Turkey free of terror.' In this process, all of us need to embrace geographical nationalism. Everyone living in these lands is an equal citizen. As our constitution is being rewritten, there is a need for a social contract where everyone can say, 'This constitution is my constitution.' This is one of the important lessons to be learned. The second motto is libertarianism. Freedom and liberty mean an individual's ability to express their own ideas. Authoritarianism, on the other hand, is imposing thought, and this begins in the family. Democracy is learned in the family. If democracy is taught in the family, the child, when grown, can say no to wrong and set boundaries. Because a coup is not merely a political act; violence against women is coup-plotting, violence against children is coup-plotting, and a manager oppressing an employee is also coup-plotting. The spread of democratic culture is of great importance for our future. The third motto is pluralism. That is, respecting not only one's own thoughts but also the ideas of others. Even within a family, individuals can think differently. A parent being able to say to their child, 'I don't think like you, but I respect you,' ensures the upbringing of healthy individuals free from a totalitarian mindset. The fourth motto is participation. Participation means including everyone in decision-making processes. For example, when planning a family trip, instead of saying, 'I bought tickets, we're going,' one should ask, 'Where should we go?' This is a laborious process, but decisions made through discussion are healthier, and everyone feels responsible. Participation ensures the establishment of democratic consciousness,” he stated.
“We Must Progress by Protecting Our National Identity”
Tarhan, drawing attention to the importance of protecting national identity against threats, said; “The Grand National Assembly of Turkey has a very great responsibility and duty. We must not forget that this mindset was so fanatical that it was capable of bombing our parliament. This is not a situation to be taken lightly. So how will we protect our national identity against these threats? The most critical area here is our education system. It is essential for our education system to place a special emphasis on democracy. Because the way to prevent radical ideologies is through instilling democratic values in individuals from an early age. Unfortunately, the type of person our current education system produces cannot fully embrace society. Perhaps it could have been functional in a certain period in the past, but it is no longer sufficient under today's conditions. We must succeed in modernization by preserving our own values and culture. An educational approach that glorifies Western culture, relegates our own culture to secondary importance, and mimics it, makes us vulnerable to the manipulations of external powers. Therefore, we must aim to progress by preserving our national identity, meaning to modernize while remaining ourselves. For this, I believe that fundamental and critical changes are needed in our education system,” he said.
Violence Should Never Be Allowed to Be Legitimized
As a society, we collectively experienced a trauma. Our state embraces and supports the families who felt this trauma most deeply, and it carries out various efforts to alleviate the traces of their losses. At this point, one of the most important lessons to be drawn from a social psychology perspective is that events like coups should never be allowed to legitimize violence as a method of problem-solving or seeking rights. There are two types of educational approaches. The first is based on pressure, threat, intimidation, and suppression, while the second is an approach that appeals to the individual's inner world with kind words, praise, approval, and benevolence. In today's world, we should convey our truths not by coercion, but by reflecting what is good, right, and beautiful like a light. Our approach to youth should also be in this manner. Despair is humanity's greatest loss in life. However, with so many achievements at hand, ignoring nine positive developments and focusing only on one negative one reduces our motivation. Most of our youth are questioning; we must respond to the question marks in their minds not with pressure, but with environments where they can discuss freely. Because these environments keep young people's hopes alive and enable them to discover the truth in their own ways,” he concluded.
Within the scope of the program, Minister Göktaş and Prof. Dr. Tarhan toured the exhibition and took a commemorative photo.
Tarhan then attended the dinner given for the relatives of martyrs and veterans.