President of Üsküdar University and Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan participated in the panel and exhibition titled “The Name of Victory: Türkiye, My Great Family, My Türkiye: July 15 Panel and Exhibition”, organized by the Ministry of Family and Social Services. Emphasizing that July 15 created a deep socio-psychological rupture in society, unlike traditional coup attempts, Tarhan stated that this coup attempt was suppressed by the people with the support of leadership and the media. He underlined the importance of young people interpreting July 15 correctly, adding that coup-ism is not only a political act but also a matter of mentality. He emphasized that coup-ism is a mindset. Tarhan also warned that events like coups should never be allowed to legitimize violence as a means of problem-solving or claiming rights.
Among the panelists at the event held at the Presidential Nation’s Library Conference Hall in Ankara, organized by the Ministry of Family and Social Services, were President of Üsküdar University and Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, Chief Advisor to the President Mustafa Akış, Deputy Minister of the Interior Bülent Turan, Hürriyet Newspaper Ankara Representative Hande Fırat, and July 15 veteran Levent Yücel.
"Society has better understood the value and taste of democracy"
Beginning his speech by addressing the relatives of martyrs and veterans, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said: “First of all, I would like to address the families of our martyrs and our veterans. The fire of July 15 burned most intensely in their hearts. I once again express my respect and gratitude to those who felt this pain most deeply. The suffering experienced on that night can, of course, never be forgotten. July 15 was quite different from traditional coup attempts. We have experienced many coup attempts, starting from May 27 to March 12, February 28, and April 27. None of these should be forgotten. Especially April 27 was a postmodern coup, and a noble stance was shown during that time as well. However, the structure behind July 15 was a coup attempt carried out by an Atlanticist organization embedded within the armed forces. Why did the public react so strongly this time, whereas they did not in previous coups? Because society had now experienced the devastating consequences of coups. Every segment of society learned from these experiences. They became aware of the mindset that tries to manipulate the armed forces with a small incident to stage a coup. Through this process, society came to understand the value and taste of democracy much better.”
"If July 15 had succeeded, Türkiye would have been fragmented"
Highlighting the aspect of societal resistance in the July 15 coup attempt, Tarhan said: “All the injustices that were experienced over time created a significant socio-psychological atmosphere in society. But the most critical point to focus on here is how the people should resist in such situations. At this point, strong leadership played a key role in mobilizing public resistance. Our President's appearance on television and his call for public resistance was a clear example of this leadership. I believe there were two key actors on the night of July 15. First, the President's call to the people, and second, the media's courage, especially when TRT was off-air, to continue broadcasting freely. Here, Ms. Hande Fırat should be especially applauded. That night, she defended media freedom and brought the leader onto the screen, thus activating the sociological power accumulated in society. After this mobilization, very serious resistance emerged. Some say about July 15: ‘It was a goal, but the referee didn’t count it.’ In this case, the referee was the people. What stopped the intervention was the leadership that mobilized the people. If July 15 had succeeded, it would not have been a classical coup. Türkiye would have been fragmented. There would have been a separate structure in Thrace, another in the Southeast, and a different administration in Ankara. We narrowly escaped a grave danger. This is a reality we need to be aware of. Therefore, our youth must interpret July 15 correctly. More important than the political aspect of this event is its socio-psychological and societal resistance dimension. People stood in front of tanks with bare hands. These were not soldiers. 2,500 civilians showed such courage that they even kicked bombs.”
"Coupism Is a mindset"
Emphasizing that coup-ism is a matter of mentality, Tarhan said: “Even today, there are people in Türkiye who cannot say, ‘May 27 was wrong.’ We are talking about a mentality that sees nothing wrong with May 27 or February 28. This shows that these people are not opposed to coups on principle. Because coup-ism is a mindset.”
"July 15 created a collective trauma in society"
Stating that July 15 created a collective trauma in society, Tarhan said: “There are significant lessons to be learned from this. Currently, the world is experiencing an asymmetric war. In my view, this war began on December 18, 2010. You know how when free food is given out, everyone lines up? A similar situation unfolded in the Middle East. People were told there was something free—freedom and democracy were promised—and global powers got involved. Capital owners made their plans. This was the second great struggle for redistribution after World War I. What happened was not a movement carried out by a simple group acting on its own will. It was not a coup organized solely by FETÖ’s own initiative. It was a plan executed by global powers using them as instruments. We must never forget this. July 15 created a collective trauma in society, just like previous coups. We are still living with the scars of this trauma. That’s why naming July 15 as the National Unity and Democracy Day is very meaningful. Because it symbolizes national solidarity and democratic will. We must appreciate the value of such national days. They are vital moments to pause, reflect, and reassess. Our young people should especially use these periods to quickly study history and understand what truly happened.”
“A coup is not just a political act”
Speaking about the four core mottos of Üsküdar University, Tarhan said: “The first of these is accountability and openness to criticism. Democracy is not only a form of government, but also a value. At the heart of democratic culture lies the ability to accept criticism. Türkiye went through a significant turning point after July 15. Currently, with the discourse of a terror-free Türkiye, constitutional reform is also on the agenda. In this process, we must all embrace geographical nationalism. Everyone living on this land is an equal citizen. While rewriting our Constitution, we need a social contract where everyone can say, ‘This is my constitution.’ This is one of the important lessons to be drawn. The second motto is libertarianism. Freedom means the ability of individuals to express their own opinions. Authoritarianism, on the other hand, is the imposition of thought, and it begins in the family. Democracy is learned at home. If democracy is taught within the family, a child will grow up able to say no to wrongdoing and set boundaries. Because a coup is not merely a political act—violence against women is coup-like behavior, violence against children is coup-like behavior, and a manager oppressing an employee is also coup-like behavior. The spread of democratic culture is of great importance for our future. The third motto is pluralism. This means not only respecting your own opinions, but also respecting the opinions of others. Even within a family, individuals can think differently. A parent being able to say to their child, ‘I don’t agree with you, but I respect you,’ allows for the raising of healthy individuals, free from a totalitarian mindset. The fourth motto is participation. Participation means including everyone in the decision-making process. For example, instead of saying ‘I bought the tickets, we’re going,’ when planning a family trip, one should ask, ‘Where shall we go?’ This is a more demanding process, but decisions made through discussion are healthier, and everyone feels responsible. Participation fosters the development of democratic awareness,” he said.
“We must advance while preserving our national identity”
Emphasizing the importance of preserving national identity against threats, Tarhan said:
“The Grand National Assembly of Türkiye has a very significant responsibility and duty. Let us not forget that this mindset was so blinded by its goals that it bombed even our Parliament. This is not something to be taken lightly. So how do we protect our national identity against such threats? The most critical area here is our education system. It is essential that our education system puts a special emphasis on democracy. The only way to prevent radical ideologies is to instill democratic values in individuals from an early age. Unfortunately, the type of person shaped by our current education system cannot fully embrace society. Perhaps it may have served a purpose in a specific period in the past, but it is no longer sufficient in today’s context. We must succeed in modernizing while preserving our own values and culture. An education system that glorifies Western culture while downplaying and imitating our own culture leaves us vulnerable to the manipulations of foreign powers. For this reason, we must aim to modernize while preserving our national identity, to remain ourselves while progressing. I believe this requires deep and critical reforms in our education system,” he stated.
“Violence must never be allowed to be legitimized”
As a society, we have experienced a collective trauma together. The state is supporting and standing by the families who have felt this trauma most deeply, working to ease the scars of their losses through various efforts. At this point, one of the most important lessons to be drawn in terms of social psychology is that events like coups must never be allowed to legitimize violence as a method of problem-solving or seeking justice. There are two types of educational approaches. The first is based on pressure, threats, intimidation, and suppression. The second approach appeals to the inner world of the individual with kindness, praise, approval, and positivity. In today’s world, we must not force our truths on others but reflect what is good, right, and beautiful like light. Our approach to young people should also follow this path. Hopelessness is a person’s greatest loss in life. While we have so many gains, focusing solely on one negative and ignoring nine positive developments only reduces our motivation. Many of our young people are questioning and thinking critically, and we must not respond to their doubts with pressure, but rather provide spaces where they can discuss freely. Because such environments help young people keep their hope alive and allow them to discover the truth in their own way,” he concluded.
As part of the program, Minister Göktaş and Prof. Tarhan toured the exhibition and took commemorative photos.
Tarhan later attended a dinner organized for the families of martyrs and veterans.
Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)