The Turkish government immediately designated Fetullah Gülen as responsible for the failed coup. The Islamic preacher, with whom Erdogan came into conflict in 2013, was in exile in America. Erdogan launched a manhunt for Gülenists, a large movement of people who adhere to Gülen’s ideology. Tens of thousands of people linked to the movement, including judges and teachers, were detained.
Repression
It ushered in a period of repression, human rights groups and other critics of Erdogan’s government say. Especially after the presidential system was introduced, a year after the coup attempt, democracy in Turkey went downhill. Erdogan gained more power than ever before. Not only Gülenists were hunted, but other critics also had a hard time, such as left-wing activists, journalists and Kurdish politicians.
Five years later, people are still being arrested on suspicion of links to the Gülen movement. But there is also still a lot unknown about what happened that night of July 15-16, 2016. An independent investigation, which the opposition is still asking for, never came.
It has left room for all kinds of speculation. According to some, the coup plans were already known to the government in advance, others even claim that it was all staged. There was also criticism of the international community, which according to many Turks did not take the situation seriously enough.
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