Turkey has a tradition of practicing a more moderate type of Islam with a more secular government than other middle eastern states. Thus, secular is one of the few Islamic countries with a long-standing democracy. So not all Turks are happy with the government of President Erdogan, who, though democratically elected has become more and more authoritarian and seeks to impose Sharia law.
Last weekend, parts of the military staged a coup attempt, promising a restoration of democracy, human rights, and freedom. But Erdogan called for the people to go to the streets, and they did. With the help of police and the Turkish military that did not support the coup, the insurrection was crushed. Thousands have been arrested.
Erdogan is blaming the coup on a moderate, pro-Western cleric named Fethullah Gulen, who has many followers–dubbed “Gulenists”–in Turkey. Gulen, who denies involvement, has been living in Pennsylvania since 1999. Erdogan is demanding that the United States arrest him and extradite him back to Turkey.
In principle, we might wish for a new non-Islamist government to take over. Then again, Erdogan was democratically elected and is the lawful President of the country. President Obama denounced the coup attempt and expressed his support for Erdogan, which I guess the world’s governments are obliged to do. Even though Turkey might be an example of a democracy voting to end democracy.
From Turkey foils bloody coup attempt, closes in on remnants of renegade forces – The Washington Post
Turkey’s government defeated a coup attempt by a renegade faction of the military that pummeled government and security institutions overnight with fighter jets, reasserting control Saturday after hours of chaos and clashes that killed at least 265 people and plunged the already troubled country into further uncertainty.
The acting military chief, Gen. Umit Dundar, said on live TV that more than 100 coup plotters are dead and an additional 161 people — including civilians and police officers — were killed as ordinary Turks poured into the streets to confront tanks amid pitched battles in urban areas. At least 1,440 were wounded, officials said.
“The situation is completely under control,” Prime Minister Benali Yildirim announced early Saturday afternoon, adding that more than 2,800 members of the military have been arrested and calling the attempt “a dark stain for Turkish democracy.”
The move by rogue officers and their supporters was the most significant challenge to the country’s stability in decades, and it raised fears that a close U.S. ally could be destined for a prolonged period of civil strife.
