Jerusalem marks anniversary of defeated coup in Turkey
A ceremony was held in the Turkish consulate in East Jerusalem on Sunday to mark the 2nd anniversary of the defeated coup attempt in Turkey in 2016.
Addressing the ceremony, Erman Topcu, Turkish temporary charge d’affaires, said July 15 was one of the most important breaking points in Turkey’s history.
"As our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said... the resistance on July 15 has clearly shown to all coup plotters in the world that there is no superior power to the national sovereignty," he said.
He said the Turkish people have shown that they would never accept any attack on the state.
"We respectfully salute all of our martyrs and offer our gratitude for the great efforts our veterans and the Turkish nation have made," he said.
The Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016 in Turkey, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.
Turkey marks the historic day as Democracy and National Unity Day with events to commemorate those who lost their lives beating back the putschists and to remember the bravery of the nation.
Turkey is persistently continuing its fight against the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ).Turkey declared a state of emergency on July 20, 2016 following a failed coup attempt perpetrated by FETÖ on July 15. The state of emergency is due to be lifted next week. In the two years since the putsch, a total of 32 statutory decrees were issued and FETÖ terrorists who had infiltrated state institutions were purged.As a result, close to 125,000 public servants have been dismissed. In addition to this, many associations and foundations were shut down, and police and military officers with connections to FETÖ were also dismissed.Erdoğan to march in commemoration of second July 15 anniversaryMost dismissals from police forceThe most dismissals following the failed July 15 coup attempt were from the police force. Together with the Decree No. 701 recently published, a total of 38,056 people have been discharged within the Ministry of Interior. Additionally, 34,393 people were dismissed from the National Education Ministry, 14,633 from the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) and 4,836 from the Board of Judges and Prosecutors.Approximately 5,000 of those who were dismissed from their posts returned to their jobs following decisions by the State of Emergency Commission.Turkish representations abroad mark July 15Nearly 300 coup casesFollowing the putsch, 289 cases were opened across Turkey - 56 in Ankara and 53 in Istanbul, and the captured FETÖ putschists were put on trial. A total of 9,690 defendants have stood in front of a judge as result of these cases.Also, the medals of former national soccer players Hakan Şükür and Arif Erdem were revoked.Galeri: Bosnia releases balloons to commemorate martyrs of Turkey's failed coupAt least 250 people were martyred and nearly 2,200 injured in the July 15 failed coup which was perpetrated by the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), led by ringleader Fetullah Gülen, who lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania.Gülen pursued a long-running campaign to overthrow the Turkish government through the infiltration of state institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary, forming what is commonly known as the parallel state.
Turkey’s great struggle against FETÖ
Witnesses of the defeated coup attempt in 2016 shared with Anadolu Agency their experiences on that day.Nurullah Keles, 27, carries more than 15 shrapnel pieces in his body.Keles was in front of Gendarmerie General Command in Ankara during the coup attempt when he was hit by bombs fired from fighter jets. He lost half of his braincase and his jaw was splintered. Keles is still receiving treatment."The shrapnel pieces I carry in my body are a source of pride for me," Keles said.He said some groups still try to create upheaval in Turkey and if President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was not in power, the nation would not have been able to fight back.Metin Dogan, another witness, who lied on the ground when a tank was passing Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, said he was not afraid at the moment."July 15 means for me giving your life without hesitation for something that you love so much," he said.Ahmet Akpolat, a cameraman of CNN Turk TV Channel, did not hand over his camera to the putschists that night.Akpolat said he resisted for a long time and did not give his camera, adding that professional ethics and the way he was raised played a role in his brave act. The Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016 in Turkey, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.
Survivors share experiences of Turkey's deadly coup bid