Türkiye marks sixth anniversary of 2016 defeated coup

ANKARA (AA) – Turkish officials marked the sixth anniversary of the July 15, 2016 defeated coup attempt by the Fetullah Gulen Movement. The Turkish government dubs the Gulen Movement as the ‘Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO).’ The coup attempt and its aftermath involving Turkish security forces left at least 251 dead and over 2,700 injured.

Parliament Speaker Mustafa Sentop said on Twitter that the legend of the defeated coup “will be passed down from generation to generation.”

He commemorated those who lost their lives and praised the “bravery of the nation.”

Communications Directorate head Fahrettin Altun called the event a “turning point” in the country’s political history.

Altun also warned that Türkiye “will hold the invaders, putschists, terrorist groups, and their supporters to account before the judiciary, and we will completely eliminate them together with their sordid aims.”

Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin also commemorated those killed on the night of the defeated coup and praised the Turkish people’s “spirit of solidarity” which thwarted the plans of the ‘terrorist’ group.

The National Defense Ministry marked the historic day by commemorating those who were killed, “including the civilians, military, and police, who did not give way to FETO traitors on July 15, and wish our veterans a long, healthy, and happy life.”

In a written statement, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said the defeated coup was “an attempt to take over Türkiye and enslave it forever” but that the Turkish nation foiled this plot.

“Our country has repaired the destruction of July 15. There are no shortcomings in the public order caused by the betrayal of July 15 and FETO, and any disruption or deficiencies in state services have been completely eliminated,” Soylu said.

Soylu vowed to never forget the incident, stressing that such attempts may never end but will be always be thwarted by the nation.

‘Day of Remembrance’

Since its designation in October 2016, every year the nation marks July 15 as Democracy and National Unity Day, with events held nationwide to commemorate those who lost their lives in the coup and its ensuing events.

Fetullah Gulen- a progressive Islamic thinker and socio-political leader critical of Erdogan’s longstanding policies, had orchestrated the defeated coup. Gulen has now sought asylum in the US following the Erdogan’s regime’s branding of the movement as a terrorist group. The events of 2016 in Turkiye ended up leaving 251 people dead and 2,734 injured.

The Erdogan regime in Turkiye still accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.