Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
CTAD-CUMHURIYET TARIHI ARASTIRMALARI DERGISI, cilt.17, sa.33, ss.289-315, 2021 (ESCI)
The foreign political developments experienced in the aftermath of the World War II and the economic and social concerns formed by straining every nerve entailed the multiparty life in Turkey. In this process, one of the most important developments in Turkish political history was the establishment of the Democrat Party (DP) on 7 January 7 1946. DP, which managed to come to power with the elections in 1950 and ended the single party administration, was closed after the military coup of 27 May 1960. Government members and deputies, especially President Celal Bayar and Prime Minister Adnan Menderes, were arrested and charged with crimes such as treason, violation of the Constitution, and dragging the Turkish people to civil war, and tried in Yassiada. The court sentenced fifteen DP members, including Celal Bayar, to death. However, while the executions of only Adnan Menderes, Hasan Polatkan and Fatin Rustu Zorlu were approved by the National Unity Committee, Bayar's sentence was turned into a life sentence. Bayar, who remained in Kayseri Prison, was released for six months in 1963 due to health problems. Bayar, who was under surveillance at Ankara Hospital in this process, was sent to Kayseri Prison again. However, Bayar, who had health problems again, was forgiven by the President of the period, Cevdet Sunay, with his forensic report. Bayar, who was released on 7 November 7 1964, then struggled to restore the political rights of former DP members. Meanwhile, other DP members, who were sentenced to life imprisonment, were allowed to be released, do their jobs and return to the civil service with the Amnesty Law issued on 8 August 8 1966. The former DP members did not disconnect from each other after they had gained their freedom. They also took action together with Bayar to regain their political rights. For this purpose, Bayar and his friends founded the club called "Our Home". The club had branches in cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, Adana, Bursa, Samsun and Trabzon. The club, which Bayar described as "'Our Home' Club is not busy with politics", has become the meeting place of former DP members. The club, which was opened in many provinces, brought together not only former DP members, but also the world of politics with the meals and balls it organised. Our Home Clubs have played an important role in expressing the desire of former DP members seeking democracy to restore their political rights and at the same time keeping the issue of "political amnesty" on the agenda, attracting the attention of media and the attention of political leaders. The aim of this study is to determine the practices of 'Our Home' Clubs, whose first branch was established in 1967 and continued their activities until mid-1970s, and their effects on Turkish politics.