Turkey's Bilal Erdoğan blames strict secularism for rise of FETÖ in TV documentary

In the fourth episode of the documentary series “Asırlık Gece” (Eternal Night) about the 15 July coup attempt, Bilal Erdoğan argued that the strict secular Kemalist regime, not religion, created the conditions that allowed the FETÖ organization to emerge. He said systemic repression of Islamic practice and opaque state structures fostered secretive networks that later participated in the coup.

Commentary on the series highlighted its low television ratings despite a massive government‑led promotional campaign. The first three episodes attracted about 1.8 million viewers, placing the program behind a concurrent England‑Argentina football match and ranking only ninth in the ABC! channel. Analysts suggested the outreach failed to resonate with the wider public, underscoring limited impact of the state’s media strategy.

Both pieces reflect ongoing debate in Turkey over the origins of FETÖ and the effectiveness of government‑driven narratives surrounding the 15 July events.