Kenan Evren, 1917-2015

I'm very much still recovering from my surgery and have not yet resumed work, nor is this a resumption of blogging at the full old pace. But I thought I should note the passing on May 9 of former Turkish President Kenan Evren at the venerable age of 97.

Evren led the 1980 coup and headed the military junta that followed. The coup was sparked by a period of political violence and anarchy, but the period of Evren's military rule responded with harsh repression and a suspension of political rights. After writing a new, more restrictive constitution, Evren was elected President in 1982, serving until 1989.

Though the Turkish military would continue to wield its power to put pressure on political leaders throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, it never again assumed direct military rule.

In 2012 Evren was brought to trial for the 1980 coup and in 2014 sentenced to life imprisonment, but died hospitalized due to extreme age and illness.



http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32679281