Turkish president vows to ‘purge’ military graduates who took a pro-secular oath
Turkey has been undergoing a profound shift towards religious conservatism under President Erdogan’s leadership. This departure from the secularist values of the original Kemalist republic has raised concerns and sparked controversy, especially within the military, which has traditionally been viewed as the guardian of secularism in Turkey. The military’s historical interventions in politics to protect secularism have garnered mixed reactions, leading to a series of coups throughout the country’s history.
In 2016, an attempted coup to overthrow Erdogan’s government was swiftly quelled, resulting in mass purges across various public institutions, including the armed forces. This crackdown on perceived opposition has further solidified Erdogan’s grip on power, prompting fears of a complete overhaul of Turkey’s political landscape towards Islamist ideals.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker