Turkey’s former military chief has been detained for interrogation of his role in ousting of a pro-Islamic government in 1990s, a state news agency has reported. Ismail Hakki Karadayi, the retired military chief, was arrested from his home in Istanbul on Thursday, said state-owned Andalou news agency. Police have taken 80-year-old Karadayi to the capital, Ankara, to question him on his role in forcing the resignation of Necmettin Erbakan, former prime minister in 1997. Cevik Bir, a retired general detained in April 2012, urged that Karayadi be questioned to get info about the formation of the West Study Group (BCG), which played a key role in the ouster. Bir said that Karadayi authorised all decisions as his then superior. The BCG had been established within the military to categorise politicians, intellectuals, soldiers and bureaucrats, according to their religious and ideological backgrounds during the time of the coup. The ongoing investigation into suspected actors behind what is called a “postmodern coup” has already detained 60 individuals on coup charges, including six retired generals – former chiefs of air force and military – were charged in May 2012. The military pressed Erbakan to resign over his alleged attempts to raise the profile of Islam in the predominantly Muslim, but secular country.
Turkey arrests ex-military chief of staff
