TRT World - World in Focus: Leader of Bloodiest Coup in Turkish History Dies, 2015,May 12

TURKISH COUP LEADER DIES
Kenan Evren, the general who led the bloodiest military coup of Turkey’s history in 1980, died on May 9th at the age of 97. As the seventh president of Turkey who assumed office following the coup, Evren was buried today at the State Cemetery in Ankara with a state funeral. Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, senior officials from the governing AK Party and opposition leaders did not attend the funeral ceremony. Evren was tried for crimes committed following the coup and sentenced to life imprisonment. However, courts are still hearing an appeal against the sentence. Turkish human rights groups have called for a boycott of any ceremony for the leader of 1980 coup which killed hundreds.

THE BLOODIEST COUP IN TURKISH HISTORY
On September 12th, 1980, a group of soldiers led by Evren sent tanks rolling through the streets of Turkey’s capital Ankara at midnight and staged a coup overthrowing the government, vacating the parliament, and seizing the control of the country. Evren and his commanders launched a managing body named the “National Security Council” and directly ruled the country until an election held in 1983. The council prepared a constitution before the elections in 1982 publicly known as the “82 Constitution,” and through its temporary article Evren was made president. In the three years following the coup, 50 people were executed, 299 died because of torture and bad prison conditions, 230,000 were put on trial, and more than 650,000 were detained. Evren ruled as president for seven years. The execution of 17-year old Erdal Eren - whose age was fabricated as being 18 by his executioners - was one of the most tragic deaths. Famous Turkish singer Sezen Aksu wrote a song named “Last Glance” for Eren in a 2002 album, showing the effect the coup still has on the current public consciousness.

FROM PRESIDENCY TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT
A referendum was held on September 12th, 2010, for amending a number articles of the constitution to allow for the coup leaders to be judged. The move was taken by the government as part of reining in the army’s interference on politics. In 2014, a Turkish court sentenced Evren to life imprisonment for crimes against the state including conducting a military coup and interfering in politics. He attended court via video link from hospital because of his poor health conditions. Following his sentencing, Evren appealed to Supreme Court of Appeals against the sentence. The final verdict in the case has not been announced yet. Evren always defended his role in the coup and viewed himself as savior of the country. In one of his most famous speeches concerning the executions after the coup, he said, “Should we feed them instead of hanging them?”

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