46 Years Since the September 12 Military Coup in Türkiye

On September 12, 2026, Türkiye marks 46 years since the military coup of 1980, one of the most consequential and painful episodes in the country’s modern history.

The coup brought the military directly to power, dissolved parliament and suspended the normal functioning of democratic institutions. Its political and social consequences continued to shape Türkiye for decades.

What happened on September 12, 1980?

In the early hours of September 12, 1980, the Turkish Armed Forces, led by Chief of General Staff Kenan Evren, seized control of the country.

The government was removed from office, parliament was dissolved and the Constitution was suspended. Political parties were subsequently closed, while their leaders faced restrictions, detention and prosecution.

Power was transferred to the National Security Council, made up of the military leadership. The council remained the country’s main decision-making authority until the transition back to civilian rule and the 1983 general elections.

The period fundamentally changed Türkiye’s political system and had a lasting effect on civil society, political life and individual rights.

Mass arrests and political repression

The scale of the crackdown that followed the coup was enormous. According to figures compiled by Anadolu Agency from historical records:

• Around 650,000 people were detained.
• 230,000 people were put on trial in approximately 210,000 cases.
• The death penalty was sought for more than 7,000 people.
• 517 people received death sentences.
• 50 executions were carried out.
• Around 14,000 people were stripped of Turkish citizenship.
• Around 30,000 people lost their jobs after being classified as politically unsuitable or “undesirable.”

Human rights organizations documented widespread torture and ill-treatment during the period. Amnesty International reported receiving numerous allegations of torture following the military takeover, including cases involving deaths in custody. Human Rights Watch has described mass torture and deaths in custody as among the most serious human rights violations associated with the coup.

Political parties and civil society under pressure

The consequences went far beyond elected politicians. Political parties, trade unions and numerous civil society organizations were closed or severely restricted.

Teachers, academics, journalists, public servants and other professionals were also affected. Anadolu Agency records that thousands of teachers and university employees lost their positions, while journalists faced prosecutions and lengthy prison demands.

The period also brought extensive censorship. Hundreds of publications and films were banned or classified as unsuitable by the authorities of the time.

The 1982 Constitution

Under military rule, a new Constitution was prepared and approved in a 1982 referendum. It established a political framework that influenced Türkiye for many years and strengthened the role of the state and military within the political system.

The Constitution also included Provisional Article 15, which protected members of the military leadership and certain public officials from prosecution for actions connected to the coup period.

That protection was removed following the constitutional referendum of September 12, 2010, opening the way for criminal proceedings against surviving coup leaders.

The coup leaders eventually faced trial

In April 2012, more than three decades after the coup, proceedings began against Kenan Evren and former Air Force Commander Tahsin Şahinkaya, the two surviving senior coup leaders at the time.

In 2014, both were sentenced to life imprisonment. The proceedings were widely seen as an important step in addressing the legacy of the 1980 coup.

Why September 12 is still remembered

For many people in Türkiye, September 12 remains more than a historical date. The coup affected families across the country through imprisonment, torture, executions, political persecution and loss of employment.

Every year, the anniversary prompts renewed discussion about the consequences of military intervention in politics and the importance of democratic institutions, the rule of law and civil liberties.

Forty-six years later, the events of September 12, 1980 remain one of the defining turning points in modern Turkish history.