Turkey’s Mass Trials Deepen Wounds Left by Attempted Coup

The headlines should read Erdogan's Faux Coup. About as believable as Hitler's Night of the Long Knives. Both of these fake coups ensured a despot having absolute control over their countries while ruining the lives of many thousands of honest, hard working people's lives.

Overall, all happened the night look like an operation to create a turmoil (and death) to set the stage for an upcoming state of emergency, where nobody would care for the law. Everything aside, the very first measure the government takes that night is to fire and put arrest warrant for some 4 thousand judges and prosecutors! A total takeover of the judiciary. So that the rest of the action plan, arrests and discharges, could be executed through the judiciary flawlessly. So far almost 200K have been cleansed not only from the state/academia but also from the society. Human rights, rule of law? Who cares. What happened afterwards served only one person and his collaborators, who reside in a 1100-room palace.

Turkey is no longer a democracy. It's an oppressive dictatorship which ought to be tossed out of NATO. It's reminiscent of the defunct Ottoman Empire.

"The abundant evidence presented at the trials has put to rest any broad doubts that there was an organized plot to unseat Mr. Erdogan, who himself evaded capture that night." I find this part of the article quite doubtful. On the contrary, there's abundant evidence that the events of the night by all means were out of the context of a (real) military coup, from the (lack of) planning to the disarray in execution. A conscious mind can easily grasp that this so-called coup attempt bears much resemblance to Hitler's "Reichstag Fire", which were both "a gift from the God"! Inconsistency and fake are even more apparent in tactical details, such as the F-16 bombing (!) of the parliament, where the structural damage is outward without any burning effect inside. Groups of cadets being transported to several hot locations to be assaulted by the inflamed civilians. Mysterious gunmen shooting at both sides. Chief of the intelligence and chief of the armed forces having 6-hour private meeting the day before, another 3-hour on the same day. (Yet, regardless of their grand failure, both still remain in chair, one even promoted to minister of defense.) All of the units sent out to the streets or sea given legitimate orders, within the chain of command, to either respond to a terrorist attack or take part in a security exercise. None of the government officials being touched or whatsoever, even no attempt. 6 privates, in writing six, sent to takeover a TV channel!

This article asserts that "the abundant evidence presented leaves no doubt that there was a coup attempt", but fails to explain the evidence or the accused responses. What the article does show is that the process was/is horribly flawed resulting in severe verdicts with no solid evidence for most of the accused. New York Times readers deserve more. Please explain the evidence against the primary plotters and the response of the accused.

Remind us again please what Trump finds so compelling in the leadership of this dictator/murderer.

I am firmly against Erdogan's heavy tactics against almost every part of secular life of Turkey that was the bastion of secularism under Ataturk principles until so called 'moderate muslim democratic party AKP' took over thanks to major support by the EU and the USA. Erdogan is a bigot authoritarian but it is also high time to call a spade a spade that Mullah Gulen is a major CIA operative disguised under opening 'moderate' schools starting in Turkey then spread across the globe, even here in the US. The US would not extradite Mullah Gulen cause his 'usefulness' apparently is still not over..

After the end of WW2 while Nuremberg Trials were being held Allies realized that there were at least 5,000,000 Nazi Party members who could be charged (multiply that by a spouse and two kids makes 20,000,000. that is one third of the population already wounded by war..... ). These members were at all levels of the public and private sector including judges, etc. They started thinking what would happen if all these people were charged or kicked out! So they charged, or tried to, who they thought the most guilty f war crimes and then started to co-opt some of them. Many Nazi judges retired or died in late 1960s. Some joined CIA, KGB, Deuxieme Bureau, MI5 and 6, etc. Some even served in the Adenauer governments. But at the same time Allies conducted a vigorous re-education campaign which brought about current Germany who is the master of Europe without shedding European blood (who conducted WW1 and 2 to become the master of Europe). I doubt if Erdogan is aware of this.

it is time to stop calling Turkey part of the West. Mass show trials are the mark of an unhinged dictatorship bent on asserting its power through fear. And I have yet to read any column on why Gulen as a person or what political philosophy he espouses is so threatening to Erdogan and his lackeys. Perhaps NYT could enlighten us?

The term "mass trials" gives the impression of group punishment as opposed to judging each case on its own merits. But each defendant has a defense attorney, either privately retained or appointed by the court. Moreover, thousands of military personnel and civilians suspected of being members of U.S.-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen's subversive organization which over the years apparently managed to infiltrate it’s acolytes into almost all branches of the Turkish government are charged with having been involved either in the planning, financing or execution of the failed coup. A fact affirmed by this article which states: “The abundant evidence presented at the trials has put to rest any broad doubts that there was an organized plot to unseat Mr. Erdogan”. Therefore, given the presence of thousands of cases and a judiciary reduced in numbers due to some of its own members having been charged with membership in Gulen’s cabal; if trials were held on an individual basis, it would probably take decades to complete them all. Which would undoubtedly not only lead to outcries as to the slow pace, but would result in gross injustice for defendants who would have been incarcerated for decades until their cases were resolved only to be found innocent. Turkey faces difficult choices but given the hundreds of innocents who perished in the attempt to overthrow an elected government, it cannot be expected to forego bringing those responsible to face the consequences of their actions.

Odd, that we don't see any tweets from Ilhan Omar on this topic. Wonder why.

Why are common soldiers charged for this? Weren't they brought into it by commanders who perhaps didn't even tell them they were taking over the government?

This is why I will never again fly Turkish Airlines. Low fares,new aircraft, pleasant cabin crew, many destinations, and tasty food are just blood money of Erdogan's authoritarian rule.

As long as I have been following this "story" in the Times concerning this "business", I have yet to see anything described or any allegations that might indicate anything more than a very confused claims made by and following government assertions. Not in the beginning, years ago, have either the reporters or the Turks shown that a seriously planned or, in fact, any planned action like a "coup" or a rebellion, took place. It looks more like media being led like hunting dogs along a well marked trail, to find a predetermined outcome- This may all make sense to Ms Gall and others in Turkey-now used to the ways of the Islamic government-but it makes no sense to a reader in NYC, especially one who is not a Turk or a Muslim. Ms Gall may be under pressure from the Turks, but it just looks like follow the "leader". This is a problem with a separate set of laws for soldiers and one for civilians, though there may be no laws that are actually working now, in turkey-just a lot of mud thrown and smeared against a wall.

"The abundant evidence presented at the trials has put to rest any broad doubts that there was an organized plot to unseat Mr. Erdogan, who himself evaded capture that night. " It would be useful if the article shared some facts and details about this "abundant evidence"...

One of Trump's idols going thru a political purge of anyone who opposes him. Trump would love to round up his opponents and in fact tried to have Hillary and Comey arrested and prosecuted for being anti Trump. Dictatorships are all the same control the military ,judicial and media all to ensure your total power and stifle any opposition from any segment of the population. Those opposing their absolute rule are guilty of treason ,if you don't applaud and wear a red hat with slogans the thugs will punish you. Dictators lie and demand acceptance of those lies and call the free press the enemy of the people when they call out the lies. Hello Trump are wanna be dictator admiring the world's dictators and despising the leaders of our democratic allies. Supreme court is being stacked and acting AG toadies like Whitaker put in power shows Trump's goals hopefully he will be gone by 2020.

Erdogan is acting like Stalin arresting all levels of perceieved enemies in the military, education, judiciary, business and just unlucky community members.

As a lawyer who has seen unjust convictions and sentences handed down by our own courts, I am reluctant to criticize another nation's criminal justice system. But I cannot remain mute in the face of this report given the scale and enormity of the injustice within the Turkish criminal justice system. If anything has ever resembled Stalin's infamous show trials, it is these trials of those alleged to have carried out the attempted coup against Erdogan or who are simply members of or connected with the Gulen movement. Thankfully, Turkey's Constitution should prevent the execution of those convicted, individually or collectively, in the Erdogan Show Trials. Thus, there is a valid reason to hope that if and when Turks come to their political senses and oust Erdogan from his autocratic, ruthless and reportedly corrupt control of their country, whoever replaces him will seek some restoration of justice in Turkey, including by commuting unjust sentences and pardoning those unjustly convicted. The longer it takes to rid Turkey of Erdogan's rule, however, the less it can be truthfully said that such restorative justice is better than no justice.

Three posted comments wonder if Erdogan didn't stage a fake coup to create an appearance of a coup so he could purge his enemies from the military and the ranks of civil society. However, this article pretty convincingly does say: "The abundant evidence presented at the trials has put to rest any broad doubts that there was an organized plot to unseat Mr. Erdogan..." and yet doubts linger. Another comment wonders if the US and the EU weren't behind the alleged coup, but that Turkey, or Erdogan, flipped a plot he got wind of, and used it as a "false flag" event to purge his enemies. Maybe it doesn't matter what the truth is. In a world of 'might makes right' (which largely remains a harsh reality), a purge is occurring, and it is largely sweeping up an educated class of individuals. Finally, one person is quoted as saying Erdogan is affecting a "civil war..." which might be the better way to think of what is happening in Turkey, instead of a judicial process. There have been many occasions over the years after Attaturk, when the Turkish military staged coups and overturned the government. Maybe Erdogan knew that he would never be secure as a leader if he didn't undermine the military's inclination to fix a failed civil leader.

Instead of "coup" or "attempted coup," could we say, "Erdogan's faked coup," or "the 'coup' Erdogan faked to stage a purge of his political opponents and anyone who might possibly oppose him"? The *response* to the faked coup was vigorous, organized, coordinated and sweeping, the response to the faked calls for revolt was hesitating, chaotic, and confused. When we can't see inside the actual machinery, we must make the best inferences we may based on evidence. That evidence says Erdogan staged a fake coup to-very effectively- decoy opponents or possible opponents out of silence and safety. NYT, July 13, 2017: "Far from ending the rule of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, it [the 'coup'] tightened his grip on the country, giving him the political room to impose a state of emergency that is still in effect; fire or suspend about 150,000 dissidents and accused coup plotters; and arrest roughly 50,000 people."

I was hoping the author of the article could add to the report some information, if it is available, as to the official stance of the U.S. government towards these trials.

Most likely the US knew of the coup and supported it. Secretary of State John Kerry's first remarks on hearing of the coup were a concern for "stability", not democracy. The Tankers which filled up the F-16 bombers which bombed the parliament during the coup started from the NATO airbase in Incirlik where the U.S. command for the war on Syria is seated. Three of the five regiments involved in the coup in Istanbul are part of NATO's Rapid Deployable Corps. One of the coup commanders is the head of the Turkish second army which is coordinating the war on Syria (and ISIS) with the U.S. military. A week before the coup. Erdogan abrubtly changed his foreign policy to Not supporting regime change in Syria, and working to strengthen its relations with Russia. Russian intercepted intelligence probably alerted Erdogan to the coup, giving Erdogan time to save himself and his country. Currently, only 10% of Turks view the US favorably.

Turkey has become a dictatorship and sanctions should have been imposed a long time ago. Unfortunately we have a club system in the world where friends of the United States can behave however they want like Saudi Arabia, Turkey or Israel with the Palestinians and those outside the club like Iran which will be sanctioned no matter what they do We have no credibility in trying to impose moral values on certain countries and let someone like Erdogan behave like Maduro.

Turkey never made the transition from an absolute monarchy to liberal democracy. It’s been plagued by strongmen and a weak electorate since the end of Ottoman rule. Erdogan is a tyrant but he’s not the first nor will he be the last before Turkey becomes a truly free country. Sad but Trump is a supporter of such regimes because he thinks he can deal with autocrats better than elected leaders. He can’t, he’s weak and strong men can see that he’s a punk but he had a lot of money as a private citizen and a lot of power as President, and no capacity for self-reflection, so they play with him.

Having continued to deny responsibility for the genocide of Armenians in the early 20th century, Turkey has had the gall to condemn China for inhumane treatment of Turkish captives. Only such obvious perpetrators of “inhumanity” can support a dictator like Erdogan. The Turkish people need someone who can lead them beyond barbarism.

What Turkey is doing to ensure stability for the society at large in their country is quite respectable. If we are so concerned about human rights perhaps we should stop mistreating immigrants at the border and definitely stop separating children from parents? Better yet, we should start to improve our own society and work on racism and white privilege. I would also like to point out that we wholeheartedly support some regimes who have a terrible record of human rights (Israel, Saudi Arabia, India, and many others). I'm disappointed that NYT is so liberal and one sided that they can't present facts in a neutral manner.

If Erdogan behaved less like a thug at home, his criticism of China's treatment of Uighurs might have just a modicum of credibility...

"The crackdown has progressively widened ..., as the government has purged tens of thousands from the judiciary and academia, as well as the police and military." It's difficult to believe that "tens of thousands," let alone all from the "judiciary, academia, police and military" were conspirators in the coup. While sweeping up the guilty, Erdogan is using the event to vilify both the brain and the brawn trust of Turkey. This is more a conspiracy of Erdogan to corral all those with the intellect and skills to tell right from wrong and those who could speak-out against and act on both with authority. Who is Erdogan replacing all these "guilty people" with? Once he excoriates the judicial system, rule of law is over. Once he excoriates the academic system, freedom of thought becomes a dangerous state of being. Once he shifts the loyalty of the police and military from the rule of law to the rule of Erdogan, now no one is safe in thought, talk, or deed. It's neighbor against neighbor. Someone you've shared a meal with becomes a suspect in "supporting" the coup and if you turn him in, you distance yourself from suspicion of guilt by sacrificing your neighbor. Watch.

This line in the article struck me as odd, about the process being "unmatched almost anywhere else in the West". Turkey isn't in the West, despite being part of NATO. If people need a reminder, Turkey is a Muslim-majority nation, at the nexus of Africa, Europe, and Asia, and is basically part of the Middle East. Also these huge, unjust mass trials should not be unexpected, as Turkey is roughly a dictatorship now, with the same kind of sham elections as Russia runs. The only weird thing about the process this time is that there aren't summary executions going on in the public square, because Turkey gave up the death penalty. Usually that would have been de rigueur. It's unfortunate that the innocent are getting swept up with the guilty in this, but probably a majority of those who are about to serve life in prison are actually guilty of a coup attempt. The real shame is that the coup attempt failed, but who knows, maybe the winners would have created a more fanatical dictatorship than Erdogan's. Women aren't beaten to death in Turkey for not covering their heads, but lord knows that's common elsewhere in the Middle East, and a coup could easily have produced it.

It’s a stretch to make the comparison, but after our own coup attempt (aka, the Civil War), years of war, an assassination of our then president, only the actual assassins were executed or imprisoned, and....Davis I think, a prisoner for a few years. All the Confederate generals, officers, private’s- went home. Turkey, as a member of the EU, and the UN- should be encouraged to move into the 21st Century, or at least the 19th. And the EU might want to review it’s desire to expand its borders.... no matter what, who, make pretextual concessions. Show trials, mass trials- is this what the EU allows? Brexit is starting to look, reasonable now.

Erdogan's shameful power grab is an insult to sanity...and to the Turkish people; the trials a distraction to hide his corrupted ways. Other dictatorships are watching (Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the Philippines come to mind, although there are myriad examples to keep us occupied full time). Too bad that these United States, with thier loud silence, seen complacent with all this violence 'a la Trump'.

Well done Erdogan! If Dilma Rousseff here in Brazil had acted in the same fashion, today we wouldn't have an extremist far-right government ruling the country.

“The Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen is also indicted in the main cases, accused of having organized the plot from his base in the United States. American officials say the evidence presented against him is not enough for his extradition”. Obviously the USA government will keep the old man safe to continue stirring people’s animosity towards President Erdogan.

I didn't know that Turkey as a member of Europe does not carry out the death penalty. The coup plotters at least escape with their lives albeit a life in jail.

Sounds like a government coup against the Turkish people.

What a chilling photo.

Some comments are reflecting the Republican approach to politics... blame others, then create despair among them. Obviously it was the USA/NATO to install Ghulam as new leader in Turkey. Ghulam has madrasas in many countries, these places are set up to proselytize the local Turkish communities. People here appear unable to understand the strategic importance of Turkey. Big progressive Muslim country, the gateway to Asia and the Middle East. The USA/NATO wants to have strong unchallenged presence in Turkey.

Erdogan's autocratic leadership will someday expire as many brutal leaderships have in the past. Indiscriminately indicting opponents with such unjust brutality must be universally condemned . European leadership who urged Turkey to abolish Capital Punishment ought to express as much outrage against such trials, regarded as crime against humanity.

Live by the sword, die by the sword. Maybe one day Erdogan will live to deservedly walk his own plank.

I'm with those who think Erdogan staged the coup himself. After years of traveling to Turkey, I stay away. Every English language newspaper I followed there has been taken over and closed down. The editors have been thrown in jail. Friends are afraid to speak frankly on the telephone when I can get through. The man is a frightening demagog who has engineered his own rise to despot.

What if Erdogan engineered the coup as an excuse to purge the country of his opponents ?

I have always held out a theory that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan staged the coup during a period of his waning support. First off, the stand off on the bridge seemed ill advised - how did coup leaders get there and then there was this dramatic stand down. This caught the attention of Erdogan's most fervent supporters, conservative Muslims who are mainly poorer and live outside of Ankara and who benefited the most from Erdogan. Second and most important after the failed coup Erdogan enacted emergency rules to sack or purge 150,000 enemies in government and Universities. Erdogan policies of borrowing abroad to build infrastructure to prop up his a economy had brought deep pain and doubt about Turkey. He has fast become the quintessential strong man of the middle east.

I just loved the advertisement during the super bowl to fly to Turkey for a vacation in wonderland. I wouldn’t step foot in that country until Erdogan is jailed and true democracy restored.