Coup suspects to remain under arrest after court ruling

ANKARA

Kemal Gürüz, who is considered one of the key figures in the Feb. 28, 1997, “post-modern coup” process, was arrested on June 26, 2012. AA Photo

An Ankara court has rejected a release request for 74 arrested suspects, including former Higher Education Board of Turkey (YÖK) Chairman Kemal Gürüz and retired Gen. Çetin Doğan, in the Feb. 28 case, Anatolia news agency has reported.

The suspects’ lawyers had filed new requests in line with recent legal changes that were implemented with the fourth judicial package, but the judge ordered that the 47 remain under arrest.

Gürüz, who is considered one of the key figures in the Feb. 28, 1997, “post-modern coup” process, was arrested on June 26, 2012, as part of the ongoing prosecution. The former YÖK head was known for his hard-line opposition to female students wearing headscarves in universities during his term.

Gürüz’s arrest caused a great stir in public, with many suggesting the arrest was unjust and wrong.

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Istanbul deputy Engin Alan, a former general, and former Gendarmerie Gen. Cmdr. Erdal Ceylanoğlu are also among the suspects that are set to remain under arrest.

A large number of generals and officials have been the subject of the ongoing case, which focuses on the “post-modern coup” of Feb. 28, 1997. The investigation started in April 2011 upon an official complaint.

Some of the other top suspects include Erol Özkasnak, Fevzi Türkeri, Çetin Saner, Kenan Deniz and former Chief of Staff retired Gen. İsmail Hakkı Karaday.

A Feb. 28, 1997, military memorandum sparked turmoil that led to the resignation of the ruling Islamist coalition government later that year; the events, which came to be known as the Feb. 28 process, are often referred to as a post-modern coup. The turmoil lasted many months as the military carried out an overt campaign against Islamist ideas and ideology.