July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day of Türkiye

The July 15 martyrs were commemorated by thousands of people who participated in national and international events to mark Democracy and National Unity Day.

The Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality Sports Inc. organised the “Cycling Tour for Türkiye Forever” on the occasion of the July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day.

Hundreds of Turkish flag-waving cyclists pedalled for six kilometres from the Kadir Has Stadium parking lot on the cycling tour. Cumhuriyet Square was the final stop on tour.

After the cycling tour, the “Democracy March for Türkiye Forever” took place from the Kartal martyrs' cemetery to Cumhuriyet Square.

Mounted police teams joined the march in addition to the thousands of people. Participants marched with Turkish flags to Cumhuriyet Square, chanting “All for the homeland” and “We are ready to be martyrs”.

Following the march, protocol members visited the “Türkiye Forever” photography exhibition, prepared by the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications.

Thousands of people gathered in Cumhuriyet Square to participate in the events.

Hatice and Yasin Kılıç, siblings, broke down in tears as they recited poems and the ten stanzas of the Turkish national anthem for Ömer Halisdemir.

July 15 Democracy and National Unity Train arrived in Istanbul

The high-speed train (YHT), dressed in the theme of July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day in collaboration with the Directorate of Communications and the General Directorate of Turkish State Railways (TCDD) Transport Inc., departed from Ankara YHT Station for its first journey this year and arrived at the YHT Station in Kadıköy. The words “For the sake of the crescent and the star... Türkiye forever” were written on the July 15 Democracy and National Unity train.

The exterior-trimmed YHT set will provide services for two months on the Ankara-Istanbul-Konya route with images of the July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day.

The CAF YHT set, which has a total capacity of 411 people, will travel 56 thousand kilometres and carry approximately 60 thousand passengers during this period.

July 15 Events in Berlin, Paris, Rome, and Bucharest

The July 15 events held at the Berlin Embassy started with the singing of the Turkish National Anthem after a moment of silence.

Stating that the biggest share in the defeat of the treacherous coup attempt of July 15 belonged to the Turkish people, Ambassador Ahmet Başar Şen said during his speech, “The coup attempt on the night of July 15, 2016, was defeated thanks to the honourable resistance of our beloved nation and heroic security forces and the leadership of our President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.”

Emphasising that the epic of July 15 is a victory for democracy, Şen expressed that they commemorate July 15 as the Day of Democracy and National Unity on this occasion.

Underlining that one of the main priorities of the state in the six years since the treacherous attack has been the fight against FETO at home and abroad, Ambassador Şen said, “FETO’s domestic structure has weakened, so the organisation has turned its attention to activities abroad, making the fight against FETO structures outside of Türkiye even more important. Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs, of which I am proud to be a member, has made fighting FETO’s international structure one of its top priorities.

Saying that during their contacts with their foreign counterparts, they explained with concrete examples that FETO poses a security threat to other countries where it operates and that it works like an intelligence and international criminal organisation, Şen recalled that administrative and judicial processes were put into place to limit the foreign operations of the FETO terrorist organisation and to prevent its members from eluding prosecution.

At the end of the event, an exhibition of photographs depicting the events of the failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016, with contributions from the Directorate of Communications and AA, was inaugurated.

Furthermore, a bicycle tour was organised by the Consulate General of Berlin on the occasion of July 15, Democracy and National Unity Day.

Consul General Olgun Yücekök stated that July 15 was a significant milestone in the Turkish nation’s embrace of democracy and that their motto this year was “Türkiye forever, in the cause of democracy.”

Events in France

The event, held at the Paris Embassy in the capital of France, began with the singing of the Turkish National Anthem after a minute of silence.

In his speech, Paris Ambassador Ali Onaner invited the participants to recall what they experienced on the night of July 15, 2016, and to share these memories with young people who have no knowledge of those days.

Around 80 people attended the event, where photographs of the night were also exhibited.

July 15 photography exhibition inaugurated in Rome

The exhibition’s inauguration, consisting of photographs depicting the events during the failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016, was held in Rome, the capital of Italy, with the contributions of the Cultural and Promotional Counsellor and the Communications Counsellor of the Turkish Embassy in Rome.

At the exhibition’s inauguration, hosted by Culture and Promotion Counsellor Haluk Söner and Communications Counsellor Murat Pazarbaşı, a minute’s silence was held in memory of the July 15 martyrs, and the Turkish National Anthem was sung.

The inauguration of the exhibition was attended by Türkiye’s Ambassador to Rome Ömer Gücük, Ambassador to Vatican Lütfullah Göktaş and other guests.

In his speech at the exhibition’s inauguration, Ambassador Gücük said, “In addition to political initiatives, information activities are also of great importance in raising awareness about FETO abroad.”

Emphasising the power of visual communication, Gücük said, “Here, we believe that the July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day themed photography exhibition we launched today will contribute to the Italian public’s better understanding of the gravity of the July 15 treacherous coup attempt that we sometimes have difficulty explaining verbally, this time via visual means. I wish Allah’s mercy on our martyrs who sacrificed their lives at the expense of defending our democracy against the July 15 coup attempt; I wish our veterans a full recovery, and I remember them with respect.”

Following the inauguration ceremony, which included a short film projection, ambassadors and visitors toured the exhibition.

Commemoration event in Bucharest

Romanian state officials and citizens attended the commemoration event, held under the auspices of the Embassy, with the support of the Bucharest Yunus Emre Institute and hosted by the Maarif School.

Ambassador Füsun Aramaz stated that the true face of the criminal network was revealed on July 15, 2016, and noted that there was an example of civil resistance that is rare in contemporary state and social orders.

Aramaz stated that FETO did not hesitate to publicly use terrorism to achieve its goal of taking over the state entirely by overthrowing the constitutional order.

Following the speech, students from the Maarif school recited poems on the meaning and significance of the day.

Additionally, a photography exhibition featuring images captured by Anadolu Agency photojournalists on the night of the coup attempt on July 15, 2016, was also displayed as part of the event.

Sapling planting event in Constanta

In the city of Constanta, Romania, on the occasion of July 15, Democracy and National Unity Day, with the support of the Constanta Yunus Emre Institute, representatives of local authorities, citizens, and compatriots met at the Türkiye’s Consulate General of Constanta, where the martyrs and veterans of July 15 were commemorated with respect, mercy, and gratitude.

In addition, the “Planting of Saplings in Memory of the Democracy Martyrs of July 15” event was held in the new Muslim cemetery in Constanta, built with the contribution of TIKA.

Events were held in Canada on the occasion of July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day

Commemoration events were held in Canada for the anniversary of the treacherous coup attempt by the Fethullahist Terrorist Organisation (FETO) on July 15, 2016.

In addition to Consul General Sinem Mingan, Education Attaché Ali Kaban, Religious Services Attaché Cihan Yalçınkaya, Cultural Attaché Selçuk Erincik, Commercial Attaché Ahmet Karişman, Yunus Emre Institute Canada Representative Bülent Uçpunar, and managers of associations and foundations belonging to the Turkish society attended the July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day event held at the Türkiye’s Consulate General in Toronto.

The event, which included videos depicting the treacherous coup attempt of July 15, produced by the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications, concluded with Toronto Religious Services Attaché Cihan Yalçınkaya’s prayer for all martyrs.

Another event was held in Canada at the Mevlana Masjid in Toronto. The Quran was recited for the martyrs before the Friday prayer, and afterwards, Toronto Religious Services Attaché Cihan Yalçınkaya delivered a sermon on how FETO utilised religious feelings and conceptions in the period leading up to July 15.