The 1980 coup in Turkey is a critical juncture that resulted in a series of economic, political and social reforms. An often overlooked aspect of these policy changes took place in the educational arena. This paper looks at the ways in which the Turkish state began to use Islam in schools as a mechanism for warding off communism and leftist thought among youth in society after the 1982 constitutional reform. This paper analyses the compulsory religion courses and revisions to other components of curricula that were implemented following the coup, reflecting the security concerns Turkey grappled with at the time. We specifically look at debates in the Turkish Parliament, technical reports produced by the Ministry of Education, textbooks and public statements by key military figures during the 1980s to elucidate the ways in which state actors viewed education as a space to remedy their anxieties throughout this period of the Cold War and the Islamic Revolution in Iran. Oral histories of key actors, including technocrats and policy makers are woven into this narrative to capture the ideas and politics behind the debates and regulations which emerged on education during this time period. The paradox behind secular political orientation and championing of Islam in schools and other social spaces was legitimated in the name of national security.