Turkish Embassy in South Africa commemorated the July 15, 2016 defeated coup.
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.
Germany is becoming a safe haven for sympathizers and members of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), two years after the group’s foiled coup attempt in Turkey.Around 14,000 people with suspected ties to FETO have arrived in Germany over the last two years, the country’s international broadcaster DW reported this week.Video: Turkey since the coup attempt on July 15, 2016“Germany is becoming our new hub,” a senior figure of the group said.The U.S.-based Fetullah Gulen’s shadowy group orchestrated a coup in July 2016 after a long, secretive campaign to infiltrate state institutions in Turkey. The attempted military takeover left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.Despite Turkey’s repeated warnings, Berlin has not yet outlawed the group, arguing that they do not constitute a serious threat to Germany.What happened on July 15, 2016?As German authorities tolerated their activities, Gulenists have set up new propaganda outlets and associations in recent months to support FETO suspects who fled Turkey, local media reported.At least 1,177 Turkish citizens with diplomatic or service passports, including former soldiers, officials, and their family members, applied for asylum in Germany, the country’s immigration authority BAMF has confirmed.A Berlin-based branch of the group, Aktion für Fluchtlingshilfe, has provided support for these asylum-seekers, according to the reports.Turkish parliament speaker marks July 15Most of them were former officials and soldiers wanted by Turkey due to ongoing investigations of their suspected links to the coup attempt or FETO itself.Tolerance, tensionAnkara has long urged Berlin not to grant political asylum to former officials, and to instead return them to Turkey for a fair and transparent trial at home.Germany’s tolerance towards the group, and its reluctance to extradite FETO suspects to Turkey, has been a source of tension between the two countries.While in recent weeks German authorities made critical statements about the group and signaled a tougher stance, they have not yet taken any concrete measures.Galeri: Turkey commemorates martyrs of failed July 15 coupSeveral key figures of the group, who are among Turkey’s most-wanted terrorists, have been living in Germany, according to media reports.These include ideological forerunners of the group Abdullah Aymaz and Mehmet Ali Sengul.Adil Oksuz, a top suspect in the 2016 coup attempt, also spent some time in Germany after fleeing Turkey, according to several witnesses.The 51-year-old theology lecturer received support from the FETO network in the country.Jerusalem marks anniversary of defeated coup in TurkeyFalse imageSince the 1990s, Gulen’s shadowy group has also managed to build a large network in Germany, which is home to more than 3 million Turkish immigrants.The group owns dozens of private schools, businesses, and several media organizations, and claims to have around 70,000 followers on German soil.FETO members have tried to avoid public criticism in Germany by focusing on "interfaith dialogue" programs and sticking to “moderate” messages.Galeri: View of 15 July Martyr Bridge from the airThe group’s foundation, Stiftung Dialog und Bildung, has sought to win the trust of media, influential churches, and political institutions.Ex-FETO members, speaking to German media in recent weeks, stressed that the group has a dual structure, and despite its “democratic” and “moderate” image in public, it has a secretive and strict hierarchy controlled by its ideological leaders.
After the attempted coup, Germany becomes safe haven for FETÖ
The 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 ties
Asked 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.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed veterans and the families of martyrs at a ceremony hosted at the Presidential Complex to mark July 15 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.“We have more opportunities to repay our debt to our martyrs. We look to our future with much more hope than we did yesterday,” Erdoğan said.“We will not allow July 15 to be forgotten, nor will we forget. The gravity of the struggle that our nation gave for its independence and future will be better understood over time,” he added.Erdoğan recites Quran for martyrs of July 15 coupThe president hailed the courage of the Turkish public who repelled the putsch by pouring onto the streets following Erdoğan’s call to resist. “Attempts by some to diminish July 15’s importance is a manifestation of the hatred they nurture toward our nation and our people,” Erdoğan said. “Those who want to uncover the secret of our people’s heroism demonstrated on the night of July 15 should look to our great struggle which has spanned centuries. Our people are tired of losing what they gained on the field, with their blood, to word games, diplomacy traps, heedlessness and even betrayal. We will not lose!” he added.Later in the evening, Erdoğan will attend a rally at Istanbul’s July 15 Martyrs Bridge to mark the second anniversary of the failed coup attempt.Erdoğan pens letter to families of July 15 martyrsTurkey’s great struggle against FETÖCounterterrorism efforts“This year, Turkey neutralized close to 1,400 terrorists domestically and in northern Iraq. Approximately 4,600 PKK and PYD terrorists were neutralized in Operation Olive Branch,” Erdoğan said.Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch on January 20 in Syria’s northwestern Afrin region. The aim of the operation is to establish security and stability along Turkish borders and the region as well as to eliminate PKK/KCK/PYD-YPG and Daesh terror groups, and protect the Syrian people from the oppression and cruelty of terrorists.The YPG is the armed wing of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), which is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK. The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States.“The only target of terror groups like FETÖ, PKK and Daesh is our nation’s unity. I will not end with FETÖ. We will find them everywhere they hide. There is no stopping,” the president added.
We will not allow July 15 to be forgotten, nor will we forget: Erdoğan
Under 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.
A Quran program was held at the Beştepe People’s Mosque at the Presidential Complex in the capital Ankara to mark the second anniversary of the July 15 failed coup attempt.President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the program, and recited the Quran for the martyrs of the coup.Video: Turkish president recites Quran for July 15 coup martyrsFollowing Erdoğan’s recitation, Head of Turkey’s Religious Affairs Ali Erbaş recited a prayer.The ceremony was attended by Deputy President Fuat Oktay, Parliament Speaker Binali Yıldırım, Justice Minister Abdülhamit Gül and Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu among others.The Fetullah Terror Organization (FETÖ) orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016 in Turkey, which left 250 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.FETÖ is also behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.What happened night of July 15 at Turkey's parliament?Turkish parliament speaker marks July 15Jerusalem marks anniversary of defeated coup in TurkeyTurkey’s great struggle against FETÖErdoğan to march in commemoration of second July 15 anniversary
Erdoğan recites Quran for martyrs of July 15 coup