The Turkish military coup of 1980 was a military coup made by the highest ranking commanders of the Turkish Army on September 12, 1980.

Following bloody years of turmoil where left and right wing movements struggle, the military took power claiming to end anarchy.Thousands of people were imprisoned after the coup, generally from the intellectual strata of the community.

The community suffered heavily under strict leadership. Under the generals' leadership's guidance a new constitution was established diminishing civil liberties. In 1983 new elections were held, relinquishing the power to civilian rule.