When the ‘terrorists’ speak the language of humanity : counter-memory of 15th July coup d’état

Abstract

The aim of this work was to understand how the antagonism that constitutes the core of official memory of the 15th July coup d'etat influenced the lives of those designated as the enemy of the nation - the families of cadets and trainee officers who were sentenced to life in prison for the alleged involvement in the coup; to portray the change in their identity – from believers who identify with nationalist discourse to human rights activists - and depict their creation of counter-hegemonic movement inspired by the counter-memory of the coup. The research showed how they regain their political subjectivity through re-politicizing the normalized subject positions of the nationalist discourse, challenging the embedded antagonism between the nation and its other, and countering the selective vision of justice by their actions that reflect the belief in universal humanity.