2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt — July 2016 attempted military junta coup in Turkey
A faction of 8,500 Turkish soldiers failed to seize power in July 2016, triggering sweeping purges of over 160,000 officials and reshaping Turkey's political order.
Key Facts
- Coup soldiers involved
- 8,500
- People killed
- over 300
- People injured
- more than 2,100
- Detained in first days
- at least 40,000
- Total fired from jobs
- over 160,000
- Citizens tried since coup
- approximately 3 million
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
A faction within the Turkish Armed Forces, calling itself the Peace at Home Council, cited erosion of secularism, elimination of democratic rule, disregard for human rights, and Turkey's declining international credibility as justifications. President Erdoğan had previously designated the Gülen movement a terrorist organization, alleging it had infiltrated state institutions and orchestrated a 'judicial coup' in 2013.
On the evening of 15 July 2016, approximately 8,500 soldiers attempted to seize control of key government institutions and infrastructure in Ankara, Istanbul, and Marmaris, including the Bosphorus Bridge. Forces and civilians loyal to the government resisted the attempt, which collapsed by morning. Over 300 people were killed and more than 2,100 injured during the fighting.
Erdoğan launched sweeping purges, detaining at least 40,000 people within days, including soldiers, judges, and educators. More than 160,000 were ultimately dismissed from public positions, 15 universities and over 1,000 schools were shut down, and approximately 3 million citizens faced terrorism-related charges over subsequent years, fundamentally concentrating executive power.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Side B
1 belligerent
Fethullah Gülen (alleged).