In cooperation with Üsküdar University Postcolonial Studies Application and Research Center (PAMER) and the Association of Defenders of Justice (ASDER), the "July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day 10th Anniversary Commemoration Program" was organized to protect democratic values, strengthen national will, and keep social memory alive.
The panel titled "The Importance of the Constitution in Protecting Democracy and Human Rights Against Coups," held as part of the commemoration program, took place at Üsküdar University Central Campus Nermin Tarhan Conference Hall.
Coup periods also deeply affect the social structure
The event began with the screening of a promotional film about July 15. Asst. Prof. Fehmi Ağca, Director of Üsküdar University Postcolonial Studies Application and Research Center, who delivered the opening speech of the program, stated that coup periods deeply affect not only the political system but also human rights and the social structure.
From May 27 to July 15…
Emphasizing in his speech that the constitution is a social contract regulating the fundamental organs of the state and the fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals, Dr. Ağca evaluated Turkey's coup history chronologically, explaining the effects of interventions from May 27, 1960, to July 15, 2016, on democracy and the rule of law.
Stating that the common characteristic of coups is to target the national will, Dr. Ağca said, “The most distinctive common features of coups are their desire to establish an illegitimate order by overthrowing legitimate governments elected by the free will of the nation, and their always being externally supported. We can easily understand this from the first decisions taken by coup administrations.”
Dr. Ağca stated that coups violate many constitutional guarantees, especially the fundamental characteristics of the state, sovereignty, equality before the law, freedom of thought and conscience, the right to education, and the right to work, adding, “As far as I can see, artificial fault lines are created in society before coups, and coup plotters always hide behind the mask of 'Kemalism' to legitimize themselves. All of them, including FETÖ, did this.”
In the panel moderated by Asst. Prof. Fehmi Ağca, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan and Retired Judge Senior Colonel and ASDER President Namık Kemal Urhan made their evaluations.
Prof. Tarhan: "Coup-plotting is actually a mental design, a mentality”
President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nevzat Tarhan began his speech by emphasizing that coups should not be evaluated merely as military uprisings.
Stating that "the danger will not end unless the coup ideology behind the coups is eliminated," Prof. Tarhan continued:
"Coup-plotting is actually a mental design, a mentality. Before a coup plotter acts, they silence their conscience, then imprison their mind, and finally, their finger goes to the trigger. It is not just a finger pulling the trigger; behind it is a mentality whose conscience has been silenced and whose mind has been taken captive."
"If we forget July 15, we will pave the way for new coups"
Pointing to the importance of keeping July 15 alive in social memory, Prof. Tarhan said, "We must keep alive in our country's institutional and social memory why the treacherous July 15 coup attempt occurred. If we lose social memory and forget what happened, we will pave the way for new coup attempts in the future."
Stating that July 15 was not merely a coup attempt but also a major test of democracy for the nation, Prof. Tarhan said, "The history of societies is written not only by the victories they achieve but also by the great trials they endure. July 15 was a historical test for our nation. That night, a strong national will was demonstrated, showing that no power can establish tutelage against the people."
"July 15 was not the work of a few soldiers"
Prof. Tarhan, arguing that the coup attempt was organized by a planned structure, stated, "This coup attempt was not an action planned by three or five individuals within the Turkish Armed Forces. It was a transatlantic operation backed by global intelligence services."
"Coups also delayed Turkey's development"
Prof. Tarhan stated that coups harmed not only democracy but also economic development, saying, "In the 1960s, the per capita national income of South Korea and Turkey was almost the same. Today, one of the most important reasons why we cannot be at the same point while South Korea produces global brands is the coups that occurred every ten years, the suspension of law, and the exhaustion of development energy."
"Our goal is not revenge, but to build democratic resistance"
Emphasizing the need to learn from the past, Prof. Tarhan drew attention to the importance of future generations being raised with awareness against the coup mentality, making the following assessment:
"Our goal is never a quest for revenge. Our goal is to understand what this historical calamity has taught us and to create a strong democratic antibody against the coup mentality in the minds of future generations."
Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated that coups should be addressed not only in their military but also in their sociological, psychological, and institutional dimensions, saying, "To prevent another coup, security measures alone are not enough; the mentality that produces coups must also be eliminated."
In his speech, Prof. Tarhan stated that the structural arrangements made after July 15 significantly reduced the possibility of a coup in Turkey, while also drawing attention to the importance of keeping society's memory alive and institutionalizing democracy.
"No institution should be given the power to stage a coup"
Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, stating that some formations in the past gained the means and capability to stage a coup within the state, said, "No force; not only in the army but in no institution of the state, should be given the means and capability to stage a coup. A person in the army can be religious, can have different beliefs; but the moment they organize, they gain the power to stage a coup. This is the real danger."
"We must never forget that February 28 virtually prepared the ground for July 15"
Prof. Tarhan, dedicating a part of his speech to the February 28 process, stated that the methods applied during that period expanded FETÖ's base, saying, “On February 28, the 'controlled tension strategy' of psychological warfare was applied. The religious segment of society was portrayed as a threat. It was called 'fighting reactionism,' but in fact, it was fighting religion.”
Expressing that this approach led to serious social consequences, Prof. Tarhan said, “Religious people were hurt, marginalized. FETÖ, on the other hand, silently embraced everyone. By saying 'Religion is slipping away, take refuge in us,' it used sincere people for its own dirty aims. This sociological analysis needs to be done well."
Prof. Tarhan established a direct relationship between February 28 and July 15, saying, "We must never forget that February 28 gave birth to July 15, virtually prepared the ground for July 15."
"The state's immune system must be strong"
Prof. Tarhan, evaluating coups with a biological analogy, stated, "Just as diseases emerge when a person's immune system weakens, coups and chaos emerge when the state weakens."
For this reason, Prof. Tarhan stated that both security institutions should be strengthened and social unity should be preserved, saying, "We must keep our Armed Forces strong. At the same time, we must be careful against provocateurs who exploit differences in society. We must implement unifying, not polarizing, policies."
"There should be democracy lessons in War Colleges"
Prof. Tarhan also drew attention to the importance of including democracy culture in military training curricula, stating, "At that time, we said, 'Democracy lessons must definitely be included in the War College curriculum.' I asked, and today there is still no democracy lesson in the Army War College. Unfortunately, there isn't."
Urhan: "FETÖ established a systematic structure extending from education to bureaucracy"
ASDER President Namık Kemal Urhan stated that while FETÖ operated for years under the guise of a "service community," it established an illegal organization with a cellular structure in the background. Urhan noted that the organization operated on a strict hierarchy and secrecy basis, with members organized to know only the person above and below them.
Urhan said, “FETÖ established a systematic structure extending from education to bureaucracy."
Sharing his experiences as a lawyer involved in the July 15 cases, Urhan stated that organization members followed a common denial strategy even in courts, which revealed the organization's discipline and control mechanism.
Urhan stated that today, the state has learned important lessons from the past, that no structure is allowed to form a monopoly within the state, and that institutional measures against similar formations have been strengthened.
The panel concluded after the presentation of gifts to the speakers and a group photo session.
