Terrorism in Turkey means using violence to create fear, chaos, and insecurity in the country. The goal? To push political, religious, or ideological ideas by scaring people 😨.
Since Turkey became a modern country, different groups—both organized and individuals—along with spies, have committed terrorist attacks against the people of Turkey.
Geographic Patterns 🌍
Most terrorist attacks in Turkey have happened in the southeast, east, and big cities like Istanbul and Ankara. Experts say these areas have seen the highest number of incidents due to historical conflicts.
Ideological Roots 📚
Political unrest in Turkey started back during the Ottoman Empire. In the 1940s, Turkey started moving toward political freedom. However, by the 1960s, this unrest led to the rise of terrorist groups. As Turkey transformed from a rural country to an urban one 🏙️, these groups began to appear.
Left-Wing Terrorism ⚒️
Inspired by Marxist-Leninist ideas, small terrorist groups grew during the Cold War. They wanted to replace Turkey’s democratic government with their vision of worker rule. When their political efforts failed, they turned to violence. Notable groups include:
- Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C)
- Communist Party of Turkey/Marxist-Leninist
- Maoist Communist Party
💥 In the 1970s, a student movement called Dev-Genç started bombings, bank robberies, and kidnappings to fund their operations. The military took action and declared martial law in 1971. By the 1980s, over 5,000 people had been killed in terrorist incidents.
DHKP/C Resurgence
By 1994, the DHKP/C continued its violent activities, targeting Turkish police 👮♂️ and American interests. They were active into the 2000s, and their attacks intensified during Operation Iraqi Freedom. One of their most high-profile acts was a hostage situation involving a prosecutor in 2015.
Separatist Movements 🏴
The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a separatist group, has carried out many attacks since the 1980s, especially in the eastern parts of Turkey. Some of their major attacks include:
- Pınarcık Massacre
- Bingöl Massacre
- Blue Market Massacre
In 2016, ISIL terrorists attacked Atatürk Airport in Istanbul, killing 45 people and injuring 230. More recently, in November 2022, a bombing on İstiklal Avenue in Istanbul killed 6 people and injured 81. Turkish authorities blamed the PKK for the attack.
Religious Extremism ☪️
Jihadist terrorism wasn’t common in Turkey during the 1980s and 1990s, but it has grown since the 2000s. Some groups have ties to Al-Qaeda and other Islamist organizations.
One important group is Turkish Hezbollah, which aimed to create a religious government in Turkey like Iran. This group became more violent in the 1990s, with support from outside the country.
Hate Crimes 💔
In 1993, extremists set fire to a hotel during a cultural event, while Islamic groups also targeted the Jewish community in Turkey. Armenian diplomats were also attacked by groups like:
- Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF)
- Justice Commandos of the Armenian Genocide (JCAG)
Controversies ⚖️
Turkey has been criticized for its anti-terror laws, which have sometimes limited freedom of speech. According to the US State Department, many people were investigated for terrorism between 2016 and 2020, including opposition figures, social media users, and protesters 🖥️.
Tags:
#Turkey #Terrorism #LeftWingTerrorism #PKK #DHKPC #ReligiousExtremism #HateCrimes #FreedomOfSpeech #PoliticalUnrest #History
