ABSTRACT
This chapter investigates on non-violent extremist groups in Turkey. Focusing on five extremist groups—Hüda-Par, the Malatyalılar Group, the IBDA-C, the İHH, and Hizb ut-Tahrir—we examine their ideological backgrounds, organizational structures, and tactics. As Turkey stands in a unique geopolitical position with its proximity to conflict zones and socio-political dynamics, we discuss the role of politics and the populist Islamist AKP government in the evolution of these groups over time and their relations with the rest of society. Bringing anecdotal evidence, we investigate the transformation of these groups and their transition between violent and non-violent modus operandi. The chapter continues with the inquiry of new emerging loyalist youth clubs (e.g. the Ottoman Hearths) and violent paramilitary groups (e.g. SADAT, Asadullah Teams) as part of a new generation of extremist groups. We conclude with anecdotal evidence on how these extremist groups work at the behest of the ruling AKP party and aim to suppress dissident groups along with the government’s increasing authoritarian tendencies.
