Since the beginning of the July 3 military coup in Egypt, probably no other country in the world has condemned it as passionately as Turkey has done. Millions of Turks, on the streets and online, have boldly opposed the deposing of President Mohammad Morsi and the violent oppression of the Muslim Brotherhood. The Turkish government spoke rigorously against not only the initiaters of the coup but also their international allies — from Washington to Tel Aviv to Riyadh. Ankara canceled a planned military exercise with the Egyptian military and pulled back its ambassador from Cairo.

As a Turk, I must say that I, too, share much of this reaction to Egypt's coup, which has not only derailed a very nascent democracy but has also killed hundreds of peaceful protesters. I believe it is an illegal, illegitimate, brutal and tyrannical era in Egyptian history that does great harm to this pivotal Arab country.

However, I also believe that Turkey's reaction to Egypt's coup deserves a closer look and a dissection of motives. For most Turks interpret the current events in Egypt from the lens of their own political experience and perspective, which can be outlined as follows.

Aversion to military coups