Security at Turkish airports has always been strict - I know sometimes there'll be lapses, but in general its always been higher than most European airports.
In fact, its actually a bit more relaxed than it used to be for domestic flights. Going back a few years, after you'd checked in your hold bag and fannied about the departure area for an hour so, when you went to board it was never directly via an AirBridge - you did it by walking out onto the tarmac, where there was this long row of suitcases that had all been checked in. You then had to physically identify your bag before the baggage handlers would put it on the aircraft, no exceptions! Fine during the summer, but in January when it was weeing down or snowing...
I'm trying to remember when they stopped doing this - may have been 2004 or thereabouts, not sure.
JF