Purges in Turkey following the 2016 Turkish coup attempt

A government campaign of dismissals, arrests, prosecutions, and institutional closures launched after the failed coup attempt of July 2016. It affected public institutions, media, civil society, and the armed forces.

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State of emergency in Turkey (2016–2018): A nationwide emergency declared after the July 2016 coup attempt and lifted in July 2018. It supplied the legal framework for governing by decree during the campaign.
Freedom of the press in Turkey: The extent to which journalists and media organizations in Turkey can operate without censorship or state interference. Media closures and arrests narrowed the space for independent reporting.
2016 Turkish coup attempt: An unsuccessful military coup attempt in Turkey on 15 July 2016 that sought to overthrow the government. It directly preceded the campaign and was cited as its cause.
Due process: Legal protections requiring fair procedures before the state deprives a person of liberty, property, or other rights. Critics argued that sweeping removals and prosecutions lacked adequate individualized process.
Decree-law in Turkey: A law issued by the Turkish executive under constitutional authority, including emergency powers. Emergency decrees ordered dismissals, closures, and changes to public institutions.
Academic freedom in Turkey: The freedom of scholars and universities to teach, research, publish, and debate without undue interference. Dismissals and prosecutions affected academics as well as other public employees.
Fethullah Gülen: A Turkish Islamic preacher and former ally of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan who lived in the United States from 1999. The Turkish government blamed Gülen and his movement for the coup attempt; he denied involvement.
Collective punishment: Punishment imposed on people for alleged acts they did not individually commit or for group membership alone. The scale of measures raised concerns that associations were treated as substitutes for proof of individual conduct.
Turkey's State of Emergency Procedures Investigation Commission: A commission established in 2017 to review applications challenging measures imposed under emergency decrees. It became the principal domestic review channel for people challenging their removal.
Freedom of association: The right of people to form and join groups, unions, and organizations for shared purposes. Closures of associations and foundations restricted organized civic activity.