Turkish coup history

The secular state created in 1923 by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, father of the modern Turkish republic, has long been a protectorate of the military, which has intervened four times in Turkish politics.

1960

The government relaxed rules dealing with Islam. Thousands of mosques were allowed to reopen and the call to prayer was legalised in Arabic rather than Turkish. New religious schools were opened and the period of mandatory military service was shortened.

Restrictive press laws were passed and newspapers critical of the government were sometimes prevented from publishing.

The army toppled the government on 27 May. Prime Minister Adnan Menderes of the ruling Democratic Party was tried and executed. General Cemal Gursel assumed power and began a period of military-dominated politics that would last until 1965.

1971

Turkey’s economy went into recession in the late 1960s with annual inflation nearing 80 percent. Workers' groups staged violent demonstrations and right-wing groups carried out attacks.

The army intervened to restore order, accusing the government of driving the country into anarchy. The military demanded a new government based on Ataturk's principles. A caretaker government was installed.

1980

Amid continuing economic problems, violent street clashes and assassinations, a group of generals launched another coup in September, imposing martial law and three years of military rule. A new constitution was approved in 1982.

1997

The Islamist Welfare party took power in 1996 as head of a coalition government.

The military recommended changes to the government in 1997 that it could not refuse. An eight-year education programme was instituted that kept students from enrolling in religious schools and headscarves were banned at universities.

The Welfare party was dissolved the next year. Some former members, including current President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, went on to found the Justice and Development Party (AKP).