Purges in Turkey following the 2016 Turkish coup attempt

Quick Facts: Who was Purges in Turkey following the 2016 Turkish coup attempt?

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Purges in Turkey following the 2016 Turkish coup attempt

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Systemic purges in Turkey following the failed 2016 coup attempt, targeting various sectors.

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Origins & Early Life

Since 2016, the government of Turkey has conducted a series of purges, enabled by a state of emergency in reaction to the failed coup attempt on 15 July that year. The purges began with the arrest of Turkish Armed Forces personnel reportedly linked to the coup attempt, but arrests were expanded to include other elements of the Turkish military, civil servants, and private citizens. Later actions reflected a power struggle between secularist and Islamist political elites in Turkey, which affected people who were not active in nor aware of the coup but who the government claimed were connected with the Gülen movement, an opposition group which the government blamed for the coup. Possession of books authored by Gülen was considered valid evidence of such a connection and cause for arrest. Tens of thousands of public servants and soldiers were purged in the first week following the coup.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

For example, on 16 July 2016, one day after the coup was foiled, 2,745 judges were dismissed and detained. This was followed by the dismissal, detention or suspension of over 100,000 officials, a figure that had increased to over 110,000 by early November 2016, over 125,000 after the 22 November decree, reaching at least 135,000 with the January decrees, about 160,000 after the suspensions and arrests decree of April 29 and 300,000 by February 2025. Collectively about 10% of Turkey's 2 million public employees were removed as a result of the purges. Purged citizens are prevented from working again for the government, which has led in many cases to destitution. In the business sector, the government forcefully seized assets of over a thousand companies, worth between $11 billion and $50–60 billion, on the charge of being related to Gülen and the coup.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Goods and services produced by such companies were subject to boycott by the public. The purges also extend to the media, with television channels, newspapers and other media outlets that were seen as critical of the government being shut down, critical journalists being arrested and Wikipedia being blocked, from April 2017 to January 2020. Since September 2016, the post-coup emergency state extended to purging Kurdish groups, including the dismissal of over 11,000 Kurdish teachers and dozens of elected mayors and arrest of the co-chairs of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) for alleged links with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). In August 2018, the Turkish Parliament approved a new "anti-terror" law to replace the state of emergency. In January 2014, during a major corruption inquiry in Turkey, 96 judges and prosecutors, including the chief prosecutor of İzmir, Huseyin Bas, were transferred to new locations, ending the investigations.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 2014: 2014 Milestone — In January 2014, during a major corruption inquiry in Turkey, 96 judges and prosecutors, including the chief prosecutor of İzmir, Huseyin Bas, were transferred to new locations, ending the investigations.
2. 2016: 2016 Milestone — Since 2016, the government of Turkey has conducted a series of purges, enabled by a state of emergency in reaction to the failed coup attempt on 15 July that year.
3. 2017: 2017 Milestone — The purges also extend to the media, with television channels, newspapers and other media outlets that were seen as critical of the government being shut down, critical journalists being arrested and Wikipedia being blocked, from April 2017 to January 2020.
4. 2018: 2018 Milestone — In August 2018, the Turkish Parliament approved a new "anti-terror" law to replace the state of emergency.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Purges in Turkey following the 2016 Turkish coup attempt

True or False: “The initial purges following the coup attempt were solely focused on military personnel directly implicated in the failed uprising.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While initially targeting armed forces, the purges rapidly expanded to include civil servants, judges, and private citizens suspected of links to the Gülen movement.

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