Abdurrahman Kaan, President of the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MÜSİAD), released a written statement on the anniversary of the February 28 Postmodern Coup carried out 23 years ago.
Kaan noted the following in his statement:
The February 28 Postmodern Coup, one of the most important turning points in Türkiye’s recent history, was the most significant coup carried out against all the sacred values of our nation, which possesses a strong civilization.
Our country, which in the course of its history was subjected to many coups and memorandums such as those of 27 May and 12 September, entered a completely different period with the February 28 Coup, which was carried out differently from the “traditional” coups. So much so that in this period even soup sellers were profiled, psychological pressure was applied to our headscarved students in persuasion rooms, and attempts were made at university gates to have their heads uncovered by police force. With the support of the major media organizations of the time, the perception that reactionism was coming was created in public opinion and great outrage was generated, banks were siphoned off, the economy of the state was brought to collapse, and direct intervention was made in the social and spiritual life of our nation.
Moreover, the persecution inflicted during this coup period was not carried out by the hand of a particular group alone; the process led by the military was also conducted with a professional organization by politics, the media, the business world, universities and professional organizations.
The February 28 Postmodern Coup was not carried out only against the Refahyol government of the time. It was carried out at the same time against the idea represented by the Welfare Party and against a faithful business world attached to its traditions that had entered a rapid awakening and rise. MÜSİAD too, as the strongest representative of Anatolian capital, was affected most severely by this process; its President and its members were tried in the State Security Courts and were subjected to every kind of obstruction, defamation and slander under the names of “Green Capital”.
Even in this period, in which it was placed on the target board and every kind of coercion was applied, MÜSİAD never compromised on the values in which it believed. It held contacts with the leading politicians of the time in order to bring an end to this process that was dragging our state to the edge of the precipice. It took an active role in the organization of the ''Hand in Hand'' rally held under the leadership of the Foundation of Voluntary Organizations in order to bring the persecutions to an end.
The February 28 Postmodern Coup, of which it was said that it would last a thousand years, came to an end within a short time with the help and grace of Allah, the best of planners. In accordance with the judgment that there is good in what appears to be evil, our nation awoke to a new morning after this troubled process. Today we are living a new period in which we walk more strongly with our state and our nation. With the love and the spirit of 15 July, we hope that Almighty Allah will make our unity and our well-being lasting, and we pray that our nation will never again be made to experience such pain.