Turkey coup attempt: Young Turks share their views on the military, Erdogan and democracy

“We young people want change and reform, but not like this. We want it through democracy; even if it is flawed in some ways.”

An attempted military coup unfolded in Turkey on 15 July. The military claimed to be in control of the country, however, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the group wouldn’t succeed. The military coup statement said they had “completely taken over the administration of the country to reinstate constitutional order, human rights and freedom”.

Erdogan called on the Turkish people to take to the streets in protest, and even addressed the nation using FaceTime. Despite the military having previously overthrown six Turkish governments since 1960, coup leaders appear to have failed this time. The coup attempt, which many have said was mostly peaceful, has left more than 90 people dead and 2,839 Turkish army officials detained.

The IPF spoke to five young people from Turkey to find out their views on the attempted coup and what it means for them.

Nilce Bıçakcıoğlu, 24

It seems fake to me. The coup is more like a planned scenario to make the government look like victims and Erdogan like a hero. However, what’s very complicated is that there are crazy explosions in Ankara. And we just heard two big ones near where I live in Istanbul.

I am against Erdogan because he uses religion to gain power. This is what he has been doing for years.

There are two options: if this coup is real, it can have good results in the long term. Otherwise, Erdoģan will remain as the hero and worse days will come for us who are against him.

We, as the younger generation, have grown up with stories from our parents predominantly of the bloody coups which have happened in Turkey. The belief that democracy is sacred and that no one, except military officials, gain from this. There’s an actual Turkish saying, “A coup will take a country back 10 years, economically and emotionally.”

These are the scaremongering we have grown accustomed to and in lieu of the events tonight, young people from every political party, left and right, have stated that they are against the coup.

There’s been large divisions in our country, the climate has been very tense with liberal democracy and human rights to one side, and an authoritarian Islamist rule on the other.

We young people want change and reform, but not like this. We want it through democracy; even if it is flawed in some ways.

Mustafa Cosgun, 23

I did not expect a coup. It is terrible that these people are still within the army. Thankfully, this went mostly peacefully. As history has proven, a coup is terrible for democracy and freedom. The Turkish Republic have had three coups throughout its short existence. And each of these coups ruined the economy and the freedom of the people.

No matter what your vision is on the politics, a coup is not the way of resolving issues within a country.

In my opinion, the opposition isn’t doing his job as supposed to. The opposition parties should improve laws and legislations which are proposed by the parliament. However, in most cases these laws and legislations are turned down just because they were proposed by the ruling party. Democracy is the only way. It isn’t perfect as it is, but Turkey is a relatively young Republic.

The politicians consist mostly of old people. It would be great if younger people could actually get into parties and have a say in what happens in the country. As for now, everyone has to show solidarity.

Maria Merve Amasyali, 24