Erdogan supporters speak up at night rallies

Every night, they come out in droves to attend Ankara's "Democracy Watch" rallies. Like many here, 32-year-old Zeynip said she would continue showing her solidarity as long as Erdogan asked her to. "Soldiers follow their commander's orders," the mall employee said. "Erdogan is our commander in chief and are we are his soldiers." The photos don't show those who've been interviewed by DW.

"If we need to, we will take time off from work to attend these rallies," said Saadet, a 31-year-old graduate student. "[Only Erdogan] can rule a volatile country like Turkey." Saadet, as well as others, didn't give her full name because she feared another coup attempt was being plotted and she would eventually be jailed for her comments.

When asked why he supported Erdogan, Cemal Kaya, a 21-year-old public management student, said Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) had improved Turkey's economic and social services. "Before [Erdogan] came, our hospitals were a mess and he worked to renovate and improve them," Kaya said, echoing sentiments widely held in the crowd. "Now our health system is much better."

Kaya, who had been near Ankara's Chief of Staff building when it came under helicopter fire, said attending the rallies was a way to relieve the stress from the night of the coup. "Our people went through a trauma and coming here is a kind of therapy for us to overcome the difficult moments we experienced," he said.

Ismail, a 33-year-old civil engineer, said he supports Erdogan because he is bringing Turkey's government closer to the Islamic roots of society. "We don't want a constitution against secularism, but we want one with more space to accommodate Islam," Ismail told DW. "Turkey is the regional leader and our example will help the world embrace Islam."

Free food, water and transportation is provided for those who attend the rallies, a point Selahattin Demirtas, chair of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), criticized on Saturday. "[Erdogan's] supporters are greeted with water and food when they protest the coup… but when our people protest against the military occupation in the southeast, they are greeted with water cannons."

An effigy of Fetullah Gulen hung from a noose, baring a sign reading: "Feto: Your crime is treason to the homeland." Gulen, a Turkish cleric living in exile in the US, has been accused of orchestrating the coup through a network of people who are believed to have infiltrated state institutions. In response, Erdogan initiated a purge to target his followers.

So far, 60,000 people have been detained, arrested or sacked from their jobs. People here say they will get a fair trial. Sahin, a 34-year-old shop owner, dismissed international criticism. "Europe says Erdogan is authoritarian because they want to keep suppressing Turkey," he told DW. "Europe is afraid of our society. They know we will be a global power soon and that's why they criticize us."