Turkey’s Evolving Political Terrain: A Study of Post-2016 Coup Relations Involving Religious and Sociopolitical Movements

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article undertakes an examination of the pro-government İsmailağa movement and the Adnan Oktar movement in Turkey, delving into the nuances of their affiliations with the AK Party (Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi, Justice and Development Party) and, specifically, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan following the coup attempt in 2016. It seeks to address the following questions: How did the 2016 coup attempt in Turkey impact the dynamics shaping the AK Party government’s interactions with religious movements such as İsmailağa and the Adnan Oktar movement, and what factors contributed to the intricacies and shifts observed in power dynamics within this framework? Furthermore, what potential ramifications do these transformations entail for political and religious influence within the nation? The thesis posits that despite Erdoğan’s reliance on religious movements as a voting bloc and a critical element in efforts to fill the void left by the exclusion of the Fethullah Gülen movement from governmental positions, religious movements do not enjoy the same degree of autonomy as they did prior to the coup attempt. Moreover, Erdoğan has adopted a more circumspect and distrustful stance, not only toward dissenting movements but also toward pro-AK Party movements. By concentrating on İsmailağa and the Adnan Oktar movement, we can discern Erdoğan’s disposition toward religious movements and the shift that has manifested in the relationship between the government and religious movements. This article draws upon a diverse array of sources, including deliberations from Turkey’s Grand Assembly, to glean insights into the interactions between the government and religious movements.