Historical story

Will the museum of torture convince people to democracy?

A wooden pole used to painfully suspend suspects. The truncheon with which the prisoners were beaten on the soles of their feet. Cables used for electroconvulsive torture. These and other exhibits from 30 years ago are intended to convince Turks to vote for more democratization of the political system.

On Sunday, the 30th anniversary of the military coup, Turkey will hold a referendum on the proposed amendments to the constitution. The ruling party argues that they are aimed at partial elimination of the authoritarian legacy of the 1980 coup. At the same time, the amendments are necessary for the continuation of talks on membership in the European Union. The referendum aroused a lively discussion because the Turks treat it as a plebiscite of support for the Justice and Progress Party, which has been in power for 8 years. On the other hand, the military considers the vote an attempt to assassinate its privileged position. According to the constitution of 1982, which is still in force, it is the armed forces that play the role of the guardian of the secular, republican state tradition and have the right to intervene in the event of a threat to it. In the course of a public debate, an exhibition called "The Museum of Disgrace" was opened in Ankara, prepared by left-wing victims of the military coup to help persuade voters to support the changes.

According to official figures, some 650,000 people were arrested after the coup and 230,000 were brought before military courts. 49 accused were executed and a further 300 died in prisons - most of them as a result of torture. The exhibition presents torture devices from that period, as well as letters and photographs of those sentenced to death. Among the exhibits there was, in addition to the devices mentioned in the introduction, incl. a replica of the gallows on which Erdal Eren was hanged - a 17-year-old sentenced to death, whose execution became a symbol of an oppressive regime for the Turks.

Voting among supporters of democratization also provokes mixed reactions - many say that the proposed changes are purely cosmetic. In the previous referendum in 2007, it was already possible to gain public support for the direct elections of the president and to shorten his term of office to 5 years.

Source: Fox News