How residents of North Rhine-Westphalia survived the coup in Turkey
Emre and his wife moved to Dortmund from Turkey six months ago. One of the reasons for this was the economic situation in the country, which has deteriorated significantly in recent years.
On the night of the coup, the 30-year-old recalls, his father called. After all, he had already survived a coup attempt in 1980. “He told me to stay home and watch the news.” So Emre did the same.
“I was in my university town Sivas. My friend wanted to go by bus to another city. Suddenly this was no longer possible. Then we heard that there was an attempted coup.”
Emre
Attempted coup in 2016: images of that night are etched into our memories
The consequences of that night are being felt not only in Turkey. Many people with Turkish roots in North Rhine-Westphalia also remember exactly where they were when the first reports of the coup attempt came to light.
Celine Gunaydin recalls the scene on television when the presenter announced that a coup was taking place:
“And I remember each of us had a rumbling feeling in our stomachs because we didn’t know exactly what was happening or why it was happening.”
Selin Günaydin, CDU politician
According to Gunaydin, in the first few hours there was especially great concern in the country for his own family. “There was a feeling of anxiety: in what direction are we actually going now?” But these feelings didn’t just remain private. Günaydin not only has Turkish roots, but is also the president of the Turkish-German Student and Academic Platform.
The division extends to Germany.
The Werler woman quickly realizes that events will go far beyond the night of the coup and will also affect discussions within the Turkish community. “Especially on Turkish social media, two camps quickly became apparent: the opposition, who were convinced that this was a staged coup attempt, and Erdogan supporters.”
In their view, political events following the coup attempt continue to have an impact today. In Germany, political tensions from Turkey are also repeatedly discussed in clubs, associations or private discussions. “It always becomes a problem that people working in the club have different political views and cannot come to a common denominator. I find this a great shame because we Turkish Germans should first of all worry about our status here in Germany.”
The consequences affect the younger generation
The aftermath of the coup attempt is still an issue today, and not just in clubs and families. Burak Can Kaba is also actively involved in this. A student from Bielefeld is writing a bachelor’s thesis on the political development of Turkey. He cannot deny that his academic interest in the subject was largely influenced by his personal interest in Turkish politics after the coup attempt.
The student also notes the division within the Turkish community. “I have rarely seen a community so divided politically. Of course, it is also connected by the experience of the diaspora, but it is also very divided.” The 24-year-old believes the issue that most divides Turks around the world is Erdogan. “Especially after the coup attempt.”
Our sources:
Broadcast: WDR.deTen years of a coup attempt in Turkey: voices from Vietnam, 07/14/202514:45