# Does the Turkish military still act as guardian of the Ataturk secular constitution? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 16, 2013, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-turkish-military-still-act-as-guardian-of-the-ataturk-secular-constitution/661125 "2013-06-16T15:28:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2013, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-turkish-military-still-act-as-guardian-of-the-ataturk-secular-constitution/661125/1 "2013-06-16T15:28:27Z")
In the past the Turkish generals always stepped in if they saw a threat to secularism, although I’m not sure whether this was ever written into law. Have they now relinquished that role or do they still see themselves as the ultimate guardians of Ataturk’s legacy? (In the latter case of course one would expect them to be very carefully weighing up the present crisis in Turkey and the fears of many that the country will shed secularism and become a fully Islamic state.) ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2013, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-turkish-military-still-act-as-guardian-of-the-ataturk-secular-constitution/661125/2 "2013-06-16T17:56:09Z")
Erdogan brought up a bunch of the old military leadership on charges of planning a coup a few years ago (the charges aren’t totally unbelievable, given Turkey’s history). CW seems to be that their replacements were younger, less secular Generals who are less likely to sack the elected leadership if they feel they’re overly religious.