Highlights:
• There is a long history of ultranationalist activity in Turkey
• The Turkish government is now taking the threat of ultra-nationalism seriously
• It is likely that more arrests will be made against ultra-nationalists
Turkey as a nation has been rocked by recent arrests and charges made against several high level ultranationalists. The recent arrests and charges stem from an ensuing investigation into the discovery of a stockpile of explosives and munitions in Istanbul in June 2007. At least twenty-eight people have been arrested in connection with this investigation since that time period.
Those arrested include three retired military officers including former Major General, Veli Kucuk, as well as nationalist lawyer, Kemal Kerincinz. Kucuk is accused of plotting to kill Turkish Nobel Laureate author Orhan Pamuk, and Kerincinz earned a reputation for filing legal cases against and harassing Turkish writers, including murdered Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink.
It is believed that this ultra-nationalist group, named Ergenekon, was plotting an uprising against the Turkish government and a coup. Specifically, prosecutors believe the accused were inciting people to armed revolt, planning assassinations of Kurdish politicians and pro-Kurdish authors, and planning a series of bomb attacks targeting Turkey’s government. It is believed the group was trying to create a state of chaos in Turkey in order to orchestrate a military coup next year.
Because of the increased threat posed to the Turkish government, we expect increased focus and arrests relating to Ergenekon in the near to mid-term.
The Deep State and Ultra-Nationalism
For decades, there has been talk about the “state within the state” in Turkey or the “Deep State“—individuals within government and state institutions such as the police, judiciary and military—that are fiercely nationalist. This group believes they are the guardians of the state and often target those they believe are threatening the integrity of the Turkish republic.
Recently, it was revealed during the murder trial of the Hrant Dink killers that members of the Gendarmie might have known ahead of time of the plot to kill Dink. There have been many conspiracy theories regarding ultra-nationalist groups within the government, but prosecution and evidence has often been lacking. Some theorists believe that the origins of the Deep State are found in purported secret paramilitary groups set up in Turkey during the Cold War by the British and Americans to counter the influence of Communism and a possible Soviet invasion. It is also believed that the Turkish state tacitly supported these paramilitary groups that were later involved with killing Kurdish leaders in previous decades.
However, despite increasing attacks on religious and ethnic minorities, as well as writers who question the tenets of the Turkish state, many citizens have felt for a long-time that the ultra-nationalist elements lurking in the background of the state have gone unpunished (Previous Report).
Future Outlook
Prime Minister Erdogan has pledged to eradicate these clandestine groups of ultra-nationalists. Thus far, he has not made much progress, but has come under increasing pressure to take action after a series of killings conducted by ultra-nationalists. Erdogan and his Islamist based party AKP have had to tread very carefully with the secular establishment and military in Turkey. Erdogan has to walk a very fine line between routing out ultra-nationalists and attacking the secular elite.
However, now that it appears that these far-right groups have been targeting his government, Erdogan has both the incentive and justification to take action against these groups. In addition, members of the secular elite also do not want to be tarnished by the same brush as these more radicalized nationalist elements.
It is likely these recent arrests are only the tip of the iceberg, and we will see more transparency and action by the current Turkish government against the threat from ultra-nationalism.