The Horrifying Truth About the Island Where Democracy Was Silenced Forever

Yassiada Island, now called Democracy and Freedom Island, holds one of Turkey’s darkest chapters. Located in the Sea of Marmara, this isolated island became infamous after the 1960 military coup, when former Prime Minister Adnan Menderes and his government were imprisoned and tried here. The island transformed into a courtroom of judgment, leading to tragic executions that shocked the nation. Today, Yassiada is a memorial site, with museums and preserved courtrooms, reminding visitors of the fragile nature of democracy. Its haunting silence and powerful history make it one of the most symbolic and emotionally charged islands in modern Turkish history.