15 July martyrs commemorated at the Turkish Consulate General in Komotini
A solemn ceremony was held at the Consulate General of the Republic of Türkiye in Komotini to commemorate the martyrs of the 15 July coup attempt, as part of the "15 July Democracy and National Unity Day" observance.
The event, held on Tuesday morning, was attended by representatives of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace and many members of the local Turkish community.
Marking the ninth anniversary of the treacherous coup attempt carried out by the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) in 2016, the ceremony began with a moment of silence and the singing of the Turkish National Anthem. This was followed by a recitation from the Holy Qur'an by Mehmet Hafız, a cleric affiliated with the Komotini Mufti Office.
Mustafa Trampa: "15 July is a symbol for all the Turkish world"
Mustafa Trampa, Chairman of the Consultative Council of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace and Mufti of Xanthi, delivered a speech emphasizing the importance of the day.
"The treacherous coup attempt was thwarted by the unshakable will of the Turkish nation, the determined leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and the heroic struggle of our security forces," said Trampa.
He continued:
"As it has throughout history, the noble Turkish nation rose with faith, determination, and resolve on the night of 15 July—defending its religion, values, freedom, independence, and rule of law against FETÖ’s betrayal."
Trampa highlighted that 15 July was not only a pivotal moment for Türkiye but a symbol of national will across the entire Turkish world. Addressing young people directly, he added:
"We must not forget or allow others to forget 15 July. National memory is the compass of a nation. If we forget, we risk encountering the same dark plots again."
He paid tribute to the martyrs and veterans, especially journalist Mustafa Cambaz from Western Thrace, who was martyred in Istanbul’s Çengelköy during the coup attempt.
"May Allah have mercy on all our martyrs who sacrificed their lives for our homeland, including Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of our Republic, and those who stood against the coup. May He bless our veterans with health and peace. May He protect our nation from all forms of division, evil, and betrayal."
Consul General Aykut Ünal: "The greatest lesson of 15 July is that no power is above the nation"
Following Trampa, Turkish Consul General to Komotini Aykut Ünal also delivered a speech. Ünal described 15 July as the culmination of a long-standing betrayal against the Turkish state and people.
"A group of traitors sold themselves to a deceiver and tried to take over our country. They stabbed the nation in the heart while receiving their salaries from its taxes," said Ünal.
He emphasized that the nation's stance was stronger than any traitorous plan:
"These people were devils disguised as Muslims, pretending to pray while worshiping a madman. They were exposed by the nation. 15 July taught us that no power stands above the will of the people."
Ünal also warned against those still loyal to FETÖ, stating:
"The fight against FETÖ continues. These impostors hide behind religious and national values, even claiming loyalty to the Republic and Atatürk, but their roots are the same. They aim to divide us. They serve foreign masters like mercenaries for a bowl of soup. These are not Muslims, they are traitors. They are not human, let alone believers."
He concluded by honoring the martyrs and veterans:
"Let us remember our martyrs with mercy, our veterans with gratitude, and continue to live the spirit of 15 July every day."
Final Prayer and Attendance
After the speeches, Komotini Mufti İbrahim Şerif offered a final prayer for the martyrs of 15 July.
The commemoration was attended by members of the Consultative Council of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace, representatives of minority institutions, and numerous Turkish compatriots.
