Turkish families cope with aftermath of failed coup
With their fathers in jail following the failed July 15 coup in Turkey, these children struggle to convince others of their fathers' innocence.
ANKARA, Turkey — “We keep ourselves hidden,” said 22-year-old Ceren,* a recent university graduate. “Right now we’re speaking English, so it’s OK, but normally when we’re speaking to each other, we try to keep our voices low in case someone hears and causes trouble.”
She’s sitting in an outdoor terrace in a mall in central Ankara with four of her friends. They don’t want the people around to understand them because they’re the sons and daughters of some of the most hated people in the country.
Their fathers are generals who have been arrested and accused of involvement in the July 15 failed military coup. They all insist their dads had nothing to do with the coup attempt that left 272 dead.
Recep, a 20-year-old university student discharged from the Naval War Academy, said he was with his dad at the movies when the coup started.
