Kenan Evren

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Kenan Evren

| nationality = Turkish

| image = Kenan Evren (cropped).png

| caption = Evren in 1988

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1917|7|17}}

| birth_place = Alaşehir, Ottoman Empire

| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2015|5|9|1917|7|17}}

| death_place = Ankara, Turkey

| resting_place = Turkish State Cemetery

| order =

| office = 7th President of Turkey

| term_start = 12 September 1980

| term_end = 9 November 1989

| predecessor = İhsan Sabri Çağlayangil (acting)

| successor = Turgut Özal

| primeminister = Bülend Ulusu
Turgut Özal

| office1 = Chief of the General Staff of Turkey

| term_start1 = 7 March 1978

| term_end1 = 1 July 1983

| predecessor1 = Semih Sancar

| successor1 = Nurettin Ersin

| office2 = Commander of the Turkish Army

| term_start2 = 5 September 1977

| term_end2 = 6 March 1978

| predecessor2 = Semih Sancar

| successor2 = Nurettin Ersin

| spouse = {{marriage|Sekine Muslu|1944|1982|reason=died}}

| children = Şenay Evren
Gülay Evren
Miray Evren

| allegiance = {{flag|Turkey}}

| branch = {{army|Turkey}}

| serviceyears = 1938–1983

| rank = General

| signature = Kenan Evren imzası.png

| alt = 220

| alma_mater = Turkish Military Academy
Army War Institute

}}

Ahmet Kenan Evren{{efn|{{IPA|tr|ceˈnan evˈɾɛn|lang}}}} (17 July 1917 – 9 May 2015) was a Turkish politician and military officer who served as the seventh president of Turkey from 1980 to 1989. He assumed the post by leading the 1980 military coup.

On 18 June 2014, a Turkish court sentenced him to life imprisonment and demotion of his military rank, (down to private from army general) for leading the military coup in 1980. He was found guilty of obstructing democracy by deposing the prime minister Süleyman Demirel and of abolishing the parliament, senate and the constitution. This sentence was under appeal at the time of his death.{{cite news|title=Kenan Evren ve Tahsin Şahinkaya hakkındaki dosya 6 aydır Yargıtay'a gönderilmedi|url=http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/27639896.asp|access-date=15 May 2015|publisher=Hürriyet|date=24 Nov 2014}}

Biography

Ahmet Kenan Evren was born in Alaşehir, Manisa Province.[http://www.tccb.gov.tr/pages/past_presidents/kenan_evren/ Biography], Presidency of the Republic of Turkey His father, who was an imam,{{Cite book |last=Jenkins |first=Gareth |title=Political Islam in Turkey: Running West, Heading East? |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |year=2008 |pages=142}} was of Albanian origins.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LJNpAAAAMAAJ&q=T%C3%BCrkiye'yi+y%C3%B6neten+devlet+adamlar%C4%B1n%C4%B1n+%C3%A7o%C4%9Fu,+pek+%C3%A7ok+%C3%BCnl%C3%BC+devlet+ve+fikir |title=Balkan Türkleri Sempozyumu, 7 Haziran 1992: tebliğler |date=1992 |publisher=Erciyes Üniversitesi |language=tr}}{{Cite book |last=Behmoaras |first=Lizi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=32FIAAAAMAAJ&q=Cumhurba%C5%9Fkan%C4%B1+Kenan+Evren+Arnavut+k%C3%B6kenli |title=Türkiye'de aydınların gözüyle Yahudiler |date=1993 |publisher=Gözlem Gazetecilik Basın ve Yayın |isbn=978-975-7304-00-5 |language=tr}} He was originally from the town of Preševo and immigrated to Turkey to live with his uncle, who was in Istanbul.{{cite book |last1=Evren |first1=Kenan |title=Kenan Evren'in anıları |date=1990 |publisher=Millet Yayınları |isbn=9755060774 |page=25 |language=tr}} Kenan Evren's mother was from a Turkish Bulgarian background.{{Cite web |url=http://www.misyongazetesi.com/Hbr-17-BALKAN-GOCMENLERI-VE-KENAN-EVREN.html |title=Misyon, Balkan göçmenleri ve Kenan Evren, Üç kuşak önce Rumeli denilirdi, şimdi Balkanlar yer adlandırmasını tercih ediyoruz. 26 Mart 2017. |access-date=23 January 2018 |archive-date=31 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031101844/http://www.misyongazetesi.com/Hbr-17-BALKAN-GOCMENLERI-VE-KENAN-EVREN.html |url-status=dead }} After going to elementary school and middle school in Manisa, Balıkesir and Istanbul, he attended military high school in Maltepe, Ankara. In 1938, he graduated from army school and in 1949 from military academy as a staff officer.

From 1958 to 1959, he served in the Turkish Brigade in Korea. In 1964, he was promoted to general. Evren served at various posts as Army Chief. He was the commander of Operation Gladio's Turkish branch; the Counter-Guerrilla. The Counter-Guerrilla was an anti-communist "stay-behind" guerrilla force set up with the support of NATO.{{cite web

|url = http://www.php.isn.ethz.ch/collections/coll_gladio/chronology.cfm?navinfo=15301

|access-date = 5 July 2008

|work = Parallel History Project on Cooperative Security (PHP)

|title = NATO's Secret Armies: Chronology

|publisher = ETH Zurich

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081212053626/http://www.php.isn.ethz.ch/collections/coll_gladio/chronology.cfm?navinfo=15301

|archive-date = 12 December 2008

|df = dmy-all

}} He became Chief of General Staff in March 1978. He was selected by then Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit for not being a member of any political group inside the Turkish Military

1980 military coup d'état

The years leading to the coup were characterized as a fierce struggle between the far-right and the far-left. Hoping to see a communist revolution, the leftist militants rioted in the streets; on the other hand, the right-wing nationalist militants fought back the left-wing revolutionaries and provoked religious arousal. Universities had taken sides and each became headquarters for either the leftists or the rightists. The chaotic situation created by far-left and far-right groups had destroyed public security in the country. Communist and neo-fascist groups tried to keep even the streets under their control, beating or killing anyone who was not one of them. Finally, an anti-secularist rally organised by Islamists in Konya on 6 September 1980 was the last straw.

With the coup came the National Security Council as the ruling body. The council of 1980 was composed of the commanders Kenan Evren, the Chief of Staff and President of the State. The parliament was dissolved. On a speech in Muş in 1984, about the execution of Erdal Eren, a communist militant alleged 17-year-old but according to official records born in 1961 who was accused of killing a Turkish soldier, he said "Now, after I catch him, I will put him on trial, and then I will not execute him, I will take care of him for life. I will feed that traitor who took a gun to these Mehmetçiks who shed their blood for this homeland for years. Would you agree to that?!"{{cite book |author=Oran, Baskın |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hedafr9aIYoC&q=%C5%9Eimdi+ben,+bunu+yakalad%C4%B1ktan+sonra+mahkemeye+verece%C4%9Fim+ve+ondan+sonra+da+idam+etmeyece%C4%9Fim,+%C3%B6m%C3%BCr+boyu+ona+bakaca%C4%9F%C4%B1m.+Bu+vatan+i%C3%A7in+kan%C4%B1n%C4%B1+ak%C4%B1tan,+bu+Mehmet%C3%A7iklere+silah+%C3%A7eken+o+haini+ben+senelerce+besleyece%C4%9Fim.+Buna+siz+raz%C4%B1+olur+musunuz%3F |title=Kenan Evren'in yazılmamış anıları |author2=Evren, Kenan |publisher=Bilgi Yayınevi |year=1989 |isbn=975-494-095-9 |page=189 |language=tr |quote=Şimdi ben, bunu yakaladıktan sonra mahkemeye vereceğim ve ondan sonra da idam etmeyeceğim, ömür boyu ona bakacağım. Bu vatan için kanını akıtan bu Mehmetçiklere silah çeken o haini ben senelerce besleyeceğim. Buna siz razı olur musunuz? |access-date=5 July 2008}} (3 October 1984 speech at Muş){{Cite web |title=Evren, bu zalimliği yaptı mı? |url=https://www.sozcu.com.tr/2015/yazarlar/saygi-ozturk/evren-bu-zalimligi-yapti-mi-829479/ |access-date=2020-12-13 |website=www.sozcu.com.tr |date=5 December 2015 |language=tr}}

President of Turkey

File:President Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan with President Kenan Evren of Turkey and Senay Gurvit.jpg and Nancy Reagan, June 1988|left]]

After the coup, Kenan Evren was elected as President of Turkey on 7 November 1982 with the 91.37% approval of the new constitution that was submitted to a controversial referendum, replacing the older constitution which, according to him, had liberties too "luxurious" for Turkey.{{cite news

|url=http://www.milliyet.com.tr/2007/09/26/yazar/guclu.html

|access-date=5 July 2008

|title=61 Anayasası Türkiye'ye büyük geldi

|work=Milliyet

|date=25 September 2003

|language=tr

|first=Abbas

|last=Güçlü}}

Evren suspended many forms of civil liberties and human rights on the grounds that it was necessary to establish stability. He professed great admiration for the founder of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

Kenan Evren despite being a staunch defender of Kemalism used a religious rhetoric in his speeches to make his remarks more relatable.{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.com/turkce/haberler/2015/05/150505_kuran_polemik_rengin_arslan | title=Seçimler öncesi Kur'an-ı Kerim polemiği siyasetin gündeminde | date=6 May 2015 }}

Evren took strong measures to ensure that the division between the political left and right would not turn into violence again; the new constitution limited the rights and depoliticized the youth.

Kenan Evren's junta regime stressed the importance of family planning and passed more liberal laws on abortion.{{cite web | url=https://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/haber/12-eylul-urunu-kurtaj-tartisilsin-346616 | title='12 Eylül ürünü kürtaj tartışılsın!' | date=31 May 2012 }}

According to a report on the Susurluk scandal of 1996, prepared by Prime Ministry Inspection Board Deputy Chairman Kutlu Savaş, quoted by the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey, "Fascists had been released from prison in return for 'finishing some jobs' under Evren's rule after 12 September 1980".[http://www.tihv.org.tr/EN/data/Yayinlar/Human_Rights_Reports/Ra1998HumanRigthsReport.pdf 1998 Report] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081003030413/http://www.tihv.org.tr/EN/data/Yayinlar/Human_Rights_Reports/Ra1998HumanRigthsReport.pdf |date= 3 October 2008 }} from the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (HRFT), chapter II, "SUSURLUK SCANDAL: Counter-guerilla Affairs", p.39-86 (see p.47)

Concerning Kurds, he denied their existence and claimed the word Kurd comes from the noise that is heard when walking in the snow.{{Cite news |last=Jones |first=Gareth |date=2007-03-02 |title=Turkey's ex-president Evren probed for Kurd remarks |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL02262977 |access-date=2022-10-08}} Referring to Kurds he used the term Mountain Turk.

Evren was also the last Turkish president to have been born in the Ottoman Empire.

Post-presidency

After his retirement, he moved to the Turkish Mediterranean resort town of Armutalan, Marmaris, and took up painting.

On 2 August 2006, a reported plan for assassinating Evren was thwarted when two men were apprehended and arrested in Muğla.{{cite news

|url = http://www.aktifhaber.com/news_detail.php?id=78372

|access-date = 5 July 2008

|title = Kenan Evren'e Suikast Yapacaklardı

|work = Aktif Haber

|date = 2 August 2006

|language = tr

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110723175340/http://www.aktifhaber.com/news_detail.php?id=78372

|archive-date = 23 July 2011

|df = dmy-all

}}

A previous attempt in 1996 had already been tracked down when two members of the assassination team spoke on a cellphone eavesdropped by the police, and the Islamic call to prayer (adhan) could be heard during their conversation. Since the timing of the adhan was 4–5 minutes after Istanbul, a point slightly more to the west by that time margin was sought and the team members were caught in Marmaris itself.{{cite news

|url=http://www.habervitrini.com/haber.asp?id=131459

|title=Kenan Evren'i Olumden Ezan Kurtardi

|language=tr

|date=25 May 2004

|access-date=5 July 2008

|work=Haber Vitrini

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928023254/http://www.habervitrini.com/haber.asp?id=131459

|archive-date=28 September 2007

}}

In 2004, he revealed that his daughter, Şenay Gürvit, and son-in-law, Erkan Gürvit, are members of the National Intelligence Organization. His daughter presided over the reprisal operations against the militant Armenian organization ASALA.{{cite news|url=http://www.sabah.com.tr/2004/09/08/siy112.html |access-date=13 December 2008 |title=Evren: Kızım MİT'te çalışıyordu |date=8 September 2004 |work=Sabah |language=tr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090616050947/http://www.sabah.com.tr/2004/09/08/siy112.html |archive-date=16 June 2009 }}

After Bülent Ecevit's death, he expressed remorse over the arrest of political leaders after the 1980 coup,{{cite news

|url=http://hurarsiv.hurriyet.com.tr/goster/haber.aspx?id=5384408&tarih=2006-11-06

|access-date=5 July 2008

|language=tr

|first=Mustafa

|last=Sarıipek

|title=Evren: Tutukladığım için üzgünüm

|work=Hürriyet

|date=6 November 2006

}} but defended the coup itself and the 35 executions.{{cite news

|url = http://www.radikal.com.tr/haber.php?haberno=180255

|access-date = 8 October 2008

|title = Evren: Pişman değilim

|date = 3 March 2006

|language = tr

|work = Radikal

|agency = Anadolu Agency, Dogan News Agency

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110522134755/http://www.radikal.com.tr/haber.php?haberno=180255

|archive-date = 22 May 2011

|df = dmy-all

}}

Civilian resentment exists, and there were demands for his being called to account following the Ergenekon investigation.{{cite news

|url=http://taraf.com.tr/haber.asp?id=13400

|title=Evren de yargılansın netekim!

|work=Taraf

|date=28 July 2008

|access-date=28 July 2008

|language=tr

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080731172700/http://www.taraf.com.tr/haber.asp?id=13400

|archive-date=31 July 2008

}}{{cite news

|url=http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=115118

|access-date=12 September 2008

|title=Debating justice for coup generals

|work=Turkish Daily News

|date=12 September 2008

|first=Şafak

|last=Timur

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914060905/http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=115118

|archive-date=14 September 2008

}}

Trial and conviction

On 10 January 2012, Turkish courts decided to press charges against General Kenan Evren and General Tahsin Şahinkaya, former Commander of the Turkish Air Force, for their role in the 1980 coup. Prosecutors sought life sentences against them.BBC News [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16488687 Turkish ex-president Kenan Evren faces coup charge], 10 January 2012. The first court hearing of the case was scheduled for 4 April 2012.{{cite news|title=Turkish gov't, parties becoming co-plaintiffs in Sept. 12 coup case |author=Habib Güler |url=http://www.todayszaman.com/news-276137-turkish-govt-parties-becoming-co-plaintiffs-in-sept-12-coup-case.html |newspaper=Today's Zaman |date=2 April 2012 |access-date=2 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402174017/http://www.todayszaman.com/news-276137-turkish-govt-parties-becoming-co-plaintiffs-in-sept-12-coup-case.html |archive-date= 2 April 2012 }} Both were sentenced to life imprisonment on 18 June 2014 by a court in Ankara.{{cite news |title=1980 Coup Leaders Given Life Sentences in Turkey |author=Suzan Fraser |agency=Associated Press |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/1980-coup-leaders-life-sentences-turkey-24187941 |newspaper=ABC news |date=18 June 2014 |access-date=18 June 2014}} In accordance with Article 30 of the Military Penal Code, Evren and Şahinkaya were demoted to the lowest rank of private; as the decision was appealed and Evren died before the final decision of the court of appeals, the demotion was not final. On his gravestone he is commemorated as the seventh President of Turkey.

Personal life

Evren married Sekine Evren in 1944. They had a child that died in infancy and three daughters, Şenay, Gülay and Miray. Sekine died in 1982.{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/kenan-evren-dies-at-97-turkish-general-led-1980-coup-and-became-president/2015/05/09/495025f8-f69d-11e4-bcc4-e8141e5eb0c9_story.html | title=Kenan Evren dies at 97; Turkish general led 1980 coup and became president | newspaper=Washington Post | date=9 May 2015 | access-date=9 May 2015}} In 1990, he was awarded the Atatürk International Peace Prize.{{Cite web|title=Atatürk Uluslararası Barış Ödülü – AYK|url=https://www.ayk.gov.tr/s9-hakkmzda/baris-odulu/ataturk-uluslararasi-baris-odulu-2/|access-date=2020-06-25|website=www.ayk.gov.tr|date=3 July 2015 }} He was also fluent in English.

Illness and death

File:Kenan Evren cenaze (9).jpg

Evren was hospitalized for massive gastrointestinal bleeding on 3 August 2009, in Yalıkavak, Bodrum, where his summer house is located.{{cite news

|url=http://www.haberler.com/kenan-evren-hastaneye-kaldirildi-6-haberi/

|access-date=24 September 2009

|language=tr

|title=Kenan Evren Hastaneye Kaldırıldı (Kenan Evren Hospitalized)

|work=haberler.com quoting Ankara Haber Ajansı

|date=3 August 2009

}} A temporary artificial pacemaker was applied to Evren while in intensive care due to bradycardia.{{cite news

|url=http://www.haberler.com/kenan-evren-e-gecici-kalp-pili-takildi-haberi/

|access-date=24 September 2009

|language=tr

|title=Kenan Evren'e Geçici Kalp Pili Takıldı

|work=haberler.com quoting Cihan Haber Ajansı

|date=3 August 2009

}} His large intestine was removed a week later at the Gülhane Military Medical Academy (GATA) in Haydarpaşa, Istanbul where he was transferred.{{cite news

|url=http://www.haberler.com/kalinbagirsagi-alindi-durumu-iyi-haberi/

|access-date=24 September 2009

|language=tr

|title=Kalınbağırsağı Alındı, Durumu İyi

|work=haberler.com

|date=14 August 2009

}} He was discharged on 24 September 2009.

Evren died at a military hospital in Ankara on 9 May 2015, aged 97.[https://web.archive.org/web/20160107091023/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-turkey-evren-idUKKBN0NU0QM20150509 "Former Turkish president Evren dies aged 97"], Reuters, 9 May 2015. On 12 May, he was buried in the Turkish State Cemetery in Ankara following the funeral service held at Ahmet Hamdi Akseki Mosque. The funeral was attended by his close relatives and military personnel. In protest, political parties sent no representatives to the former president's funeral. A number of people protested during the religious service in the mosque's courtyard.

Notes

References

{{Reflist|30em|refs=

{{cite news |url=http://www.dha.com.tr/no-blessing-to-kenan-evren-at-funeral_931876.html |newspaper=Doğan News Agency |title=No blessing' to Kenan Evren at funeral |date=2015-05-12 |access-date=2015-05-12 }}

}}