July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day
Thousands converged on the July 15 Martyrs’ Bridge in Istanbul for a rally marking Democracy and National Unity Day. Turkey marks the second anniversary of the defeated coup attempt, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured, on Sunday.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan joined the rally at the July 15 Martyrs’ Bridge later in the evening and delivered an address.
Turkish president says nation feels "deep sorrow and immense pride at the same time" on 2nd anniversary of coup bid.
Erdoğan says the 2016 coup attempt is “the revival of Turkish nation”
Turkish president says nation has closed the chapter of coups, never to be reopened again.
The second anniversary of the 2016 defeated coup in Turkey is being marked across the countryTurkey’s defeated coup bid marked across the country
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The July 15 Martyrs’ Bridge, then called the Bosporus Bridge, was a flashpoint on the night of the coup, where 34 people were martyred, including prominent advertiser Erol Olçok and his 17-year-old son Abdullah Tayyip Olçok.
All but two of the martyrs were civilians; the remaining two were police officers.
People arrive at 15 July Martyrs Bridge to attend July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day's events to mark July 15 defeated coup's 2nd anniversary in Istanbul, Turkey on July 15, 2018. FETO orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016 in Turkey, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.Ankara also 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. .
July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day
July 15 marks the second anniversary of the defeated coup during which the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), a clandestine group which infiltrated state offices, especially the military, judiciary, civil service, and treasury, and tried to take over the government as well as attempting the coup in 2016.
The night of the coup attempt saw tanks closing down the July 15 Martyrs Bridge that connects Asia to Europe, and fighter jets and helicopters flying down over Istanbul and Ankara, in addition to the bombing of the presidential complex, parliament building, police and intelligence headquarters, while civilians came out to resist the coup.
The second anniversary of the 2016 defeated coup in Turkey is being marked across the world with commemoration ceremonies. A ceremony was held at Martyrs Monument in Lefkosa, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, with attendance of deputies including Mehmet Demirci, Turkey's Justice and Development (AK) Party TRNC representative, embassy officials and locals. Derya Kanbay, Turkish ambassador in Lefkosa, urged people to be careful about dangerous organizations like Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO). “We need to be cautious and on alert against dangerous betrayal networks," she said. FETÖ orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016 in Turkey, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.Ankara also accuses FETÖ of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.During a commemoration ceremony held at Turkey’s Athens Embassy, Yasar Halit Cevik, the ambassador, called on Greece to give necessary punishment to putschist Turkish soldiers, who escaped to Greece hours after the coup attempt. A commemoration ceremony was also held at Turkey’s Consulate General in Komotini. A minute of silence was observed in remembrance of those who were martyred during the coup attempt. Remembering Mustafa Cambaz, one of the martyrs of the coup attempt, who was born in Western Thrace, Consul General Murat Omeroglu said: “Mustafa Cambaz has been a symbol of resistance for people of Western Thrace.”In Skopje, July 15 martyrs were commemorated in a ceremony held by Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) and Yunus Emre Institue (YEE). Speaking during the ceremony, Turkish Ambassador Tulin Erkal Kara praised Macedonia for giving support to the Turkish government in the wake of the coup attempt and its move to shut down FETO-linked media organizations, schools, and corporations. A photo exhibition showing Anadolu Agency’s photos on the coup night opened as part of the ceremony. Zagreb Embassy of Turkey also hosted a commemoration ceremony. A video on FETÖ’s coup attempt was shown during the program. “FETÖ attacked civilians on the night of July 15. We will not forget martyrs and veterans, who fought for our democracy on that night,” Mustafa Babur Hizlan, Turkey’s ambassador to Zagreb, said during his speech. In Balkan countries like Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, ceremonies were also held. Two-hundred-and-fifty trees were planted in the memory of July 15 martyrs in the southern Bosnian city of Mostar. Zerrin Kandemir, consul general of Turkey in Mostar, thanked Bosnia and Herzegovina for showing solidarity with Turkey in the wake of the coup attempt, during the ceremony. Nobody was able to harm Turkey’s democracy as a result of courage and heroism, she noted. Quran was recited in the memory of July 15 martyrs at a ceremony in the Afghan capital of Kabul, which was jointly organized by Turkey’s Maarif Foundation and Anadolu Agency. An exhibition showing Anadolu Agency’s photos on July 15 coup attempt was also opened. Several other countries like Krygzstan, Hungary and Sweden also hosted various ceremonies to commemorate the July 15 martyrs.Key FETÖ suspect brought back to TurkeyAfter the attempted coup, Germany becomes safe haven for FETÖWhat happened on July 15, 2016?We will not allow July 15 to be forgotten, nor will we forget: Erdoğan
Turkey’s defeated coup bid marked across world
The Turkish Embassy in South Africa on Sunday commemorated the lives of Turkish patriots who were martyred during the July 15, 2016 defeated coup."It was very unfortunate that in 2016, Turkish people had been thinking we were far from a military coup. I was in Ankara that day and I saw all the violence," Elif Comoglu Ulgen, Turkey’s ambassador to South Africa, told Anadolu Agency.The Turkish community in South Africa, friends of Turkey, and local government officials attended the function to commemorate the martyrs.After the attempted coup, Germany becomes safe haven for FETÖThe Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.FETÖ is reportedly present in more than 150 countries around the world, through schools, NGOs, lobbyists, media outlets, and other companies.Bilateral tiesAsked about relations between Africa and Turkey, Ulgen said that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan “has already declared that Turkey should have representation in all African countries.”We will not allow July 15 to be forgotten, nor will we forget: ErdoğanUnder Erdogan's leadership, Turkey has pursued a policy of an outreach to Africa based on the principle of win-win.The ambassador added she was proud that the national flag carrier Turkish Airlines is connecting people across Africa.Ulgen said relations between Turkey and South Africa are growing, with $2.5 billion in bilateral trade, which they hope will increase after Erdogan visits South Africa on July 27.Erdogan will be in South Africa for a summit of BRICS -- a grouping of five countries including, Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.Erdoğan recites Quran for martyrs of July 15 coup
S.Africa commemorates July 15 coup attempt in Turkey