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The 1980 Turkey coup

In 1980, fighting between left and right-wing groups led Turkey's military to take control of the country and detain hundreds of thousands of people.

On 12 September 1980, the army took control in Turkey.

It was not the first time they had done so. It was the third coup d'茅tat in the history of the Republic of Turkey, the previous having been in 1960 and 1971.

The coup followed growing street fighting between left and right-wing groups. Politicians were arrested and parliament, political parties and trade unions were dissolved.

Following the coup at least 50 people were executed and around half a million were detained. Many were tortured and hundreds died in custody.

Vice Admiral Isik Biren, who was an official in the defence ministry, and a former student activist, Murat Celikkan recount their different memories of that time.

(Photo: Portraits of people killed or tortured during the coup are displayed in a courthouse in the capital Ankara. Credit: Adem Atlan/ Getty Images)

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10 minutes

Last on

Sat 17 Sep 2011 23:50GMT

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  • Mon 12 Sep 2011 08:50GMT
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  • Sat 17 Sep 2011 23:50GMT

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